Rio Tinto Banning Alcohol At Argyle Diamond Mine Site

(IDEX Online) – Diversified miner Rio Tinto is to forbid alcohol at its Argyle diamond mine site in western Australia as workers move to underground mining.

Rio said it plans to “transition” to an alcohol-free site, but did not specify when this would occur, according to Sky News Australia.

“Argyle has moved into a new era of complex underground mining and transitioning to a dry camp is an important part of its future operating model,” said Managing Director of Argyle Diamonds Shane Johnson.

It is understood that Rio Tinto does not plan to introduce the ban at other mine sites at this stage.

Many mine sites around the country have a so-called ‘wet mess' where workers can buy alcohol at the end of their shifts, but some mines have closed these facilities in recent years due to safety concerns.