Rio Tinto has declared force majeure on aluminum shipments from its operations in Queensland, Australia, due to a gas shortage, as reported by Rhiannon Hoyle of The Wall Street Journal. This legal declaration excuses the company from fulfilling its contractual obligations due to circumstances beyond its control.
The gas supplies to Rio Tinto’s alumina refineries in Gladstone have been disrupted because of a breakage in the Queensland Gas Pipeline. Consequently, Rio Tinto has issued a force majeure notice affecting third-party contracts. A company spokesperson confirmed the situation in an emailed statement. 
