Rio Tinto has cut aluminum production at its Tiwai Point aluminum smelter, freeing up 500 GWh of electricity for New Zealand's national grid. The reduction, which occurred during the 2024-25 financial year, was part of an electricity demand agreement with power company Meridian Energy.

According to a financial report from Meridian, the smelter's power consumption dropped to 24% of its total generation, down from 37% the previous year. Rio Tinto had scaled back one-third of the plant's operations in June 2024 to assist during a national power shortage.

The smelter produced 257,000 tons of aluminum during the fiscal year 2024-25, a decrease from 264,000 tons in the previous year, although Rio Tinto acquired full ownership of the plant in November 2024.