BUENOS AIRES, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto CEO

Jakob Stausholm was "devastated" over the news of sexual

harassment lawsuits against the company, he told Reuters on

Thursday, while also expressing optimism for a potential lithium

tie-up in Chile with state-owned Codelco.

The chief executive of the global miner pledged action

if wrongdoing is confirmed.

"If something that is not okay is happening, it's

unacceptable. And we'll do everything to avoid that," he said in

an interview, referring to allegations of sexual harassment at

Rio Tinto's Australian mine sites.

"I was devastated when I read the news the other morning."

Speaking about the company's lithium plans in Latin America,

Stausholm noted that Rio Tinto is on a short-list to partner

with Codelco in Chile's Maricunga salt flat.