Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO) is returning to the potash sector in a joint-venture deal with Russia’s Acron.
The deal is for early-stage exploration ground is Saskatchewan in Canada, the home of BHP Billiton’s planned $US12 billion potash development.
It comes after RIO reluctantly retreated from potash in January 2009, selling its $859 million worth of Argentinian and Canadian interests in the commodity.
Rio Tinto posted a net profit of $7.5 billion in the first six months of 2011.
