News: RIO UPDATE 1-Rio Tinto's salt-ops JV to sell Lake MacLeod to Liveris-backed group

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Jan 16 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto (RIO) said on Tuesday its Dampier Salt joint venture will sell the Lake MacLeod salt and gypsum operations in Western Australia to Leichhardt Industrials Group, which is backed by former Dow Chemical boss Andrew Liveris, for $251 million.

Leichhardt Industrials will be snapping up the Lake MacLeod business which is one of three solar salt operations under Dampier Salt - the world's largest exporter of seaborne salt.

"The sale of Lake MacLeod will enable Dampier Salt to focus on enhancing operational efficiencies at its remaining two Pilbara operations, while allowing the new owner of Lake MacLeod to maximise its potential," said Rio Tinto’s managing director of port, rail and core services, Richard Cohen.

Dampier Salt is 68% owned by Rio Tinto, followed by Japanese trading houses Marubeni 8002.T and Sojitz 2768.T which have 22% and 10% respectively.