Rio Tinto Limited
(ASX:RIO) has been questioned by shareholders, who want larger dividend payouts.
Richard Giles from the Australian Shareholders Association told Rio Tinto's annual general meeting in Sydney that his members thought the miner should be paying much higher dividends.
But Chairman Jan Du Plessis says the company has reassessed its dividend policy and decided to stay with the status quo.
Mr Du Plessis says if the company uses its franking credits to pay shareholders, it would not have enough money to reinvest in the company.
Meantime, chief executive Sam Walsh reiterated the company’s plans to divest non-core assets as it strives to save $US5 billion over the next two years.
Rio Tinto posted a net loss of $2.9 billion in its 2012 financial year.
