Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO, NYSE:RIO) has reportedly cautioned that 600 jobs could go at its Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the smelter is understood to be losing up to $200,000 a day due to the strong Australian dollar and weaker metal prices.
The report also says Rio is even considering closing the smelter within two years.
Rio Tinto reported a full year net profit of $6.6 billion to the December 31, 2011.
