By Reuters Staff

       2 Min Read

       FILE PHOTO: A sign adorns the building where mining company Rio Tinto has their office in Perth, Western Australia, November 19, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

       JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rio Tinto on Monday said operations at its Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) project in South Africa, which had been hit by violent community unrest, would remain closed despite talks with government.

       Rio Tinto was last month forced to declare a force majeure on customer contracts at RBM due to what it says was an escalation in the security situation at the operations, a month after the projects general manager was killed on his way to work.

       “We all are keen to see the resumption of operations as soon as possible, but the safety of our people and the security of our operations must be assured before we can return to work,” a spokesperson for the company said.

       This follows local and international media reports that operations would resume on Monday following a crisis meeting with the government.

       Rio Tinto declined to comment on the detail of the discussions but said talks, supported by the authorities, were continuing with the communities.

       The global miner suspended the $463 million Zulti South expansion project at RBM, a joint venture with a consortium of investors and community members called Blue Horizon, in 2019 due to security and community issues.

       The mineral sands project comprises mining, refining and smelting of heavy minerals or ore deposits which are primarily used in industrial applications. RBM is a global leader in mineral sands mining and smelting.

       Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg, Editing by Louise Heavens

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