Rio Tinto Limited
(ASX:RIO) expects falling production and job cuts at its Warkworth coal mine, regardless of the outcome of its appeal against a court decision to block plans to extend the life of the mine.
Rio Tinto is disputing claims by some residents near the mine that expanding the pit would impact their community.
The Supreme Court yesterday heard Rio Tinto's appeal against an earlier ruling in favor of the residents' case.
Rio Tinto's energy division head Harry Kenyon-Slaney told media the outcome of the appeal won't be known for several months, which will be too late to avoid cuts to its workforce at the mine.
He says the court action is likely to impact productivity and drive up costs.
Rio Tinto generated a net profit of $1.8 billion in the first half of fiscal 2013.
