RIO TINTO LTD
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 20, 2025.
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The yearly report of a company based outside the US. It covers much of what a 10-K does, and may follow accounting rules other than US ones.
FY2024 · Filed Feb 20, 2025
Contents
Contract-based intangible assets
The majority of the carrying value of our contract-based intangible assets relate to water rights in the Quebec region. These contribute to the
efficiency and cost effectiveness of our aluminium operations as they enable us to generate electricity from hydropower stations.
12 Intangible assets continued
Other relevant judgements - assessment of indefinite-lived water rights in Quebec, CanadaWe continue to judge the water rights in Quebec to have an indefinite life because we expect the contractual rights to contribute to the efficiency and cost effectiveness of our operations for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the rights are not subject to amortisation but are tested annually for impairment. We have no other indefinite-lived assets. As at 31 December 2024, the remaining carrying value of the water rights (included in contract-based assets) of US$1,631 million (2023: US$1,776 million) relates wholly to the Quebec smelters CGU. The Quebec smelters CGU was tested for impairment by reference to FVLCD using discounted cash flows. The recoverable amount of the Quebec smelters is classified as level 3 under the fair value hierarchy. In arriving at its FVLCD, post-tax cash flows expressed in real terms have been estimated over the expected useful economic lives of the underlying smelting assets and discounted using a real post-tax discount rate of 6.6% (2023: 6.6%).The recoverable amounts were determined to be significantly in excess of carrying value, and there are no reasonably possible changes in key assumptions that would cause the remaining water rights to be impaired.
Impact of climate change on our business - water rightsTo manage the uncertainties of climate change and our impact on the area, our team of hydrologists in Quebec analyse different weather scenarios on a daily basis. We monitor the water resource available to us along with the impact that our operation is having on the water quality and quantity, and on the environment when we return the water following use. Based on our analysis to date, we do not consider the renewal of our contractual water rights to be at risk from climate change for the foreseeable future.
| 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorationand evaluationUS$m | Trademarks, patented and non-patented technologyUS$m | Contract-based intangibleassetsUS$m | Other intangible assets(a)US$m | TotalUS$m | |
| Net book value | |||||
| At 1 January 2024 | 1,979 | 9 | 1,953 | 448 | 4,389 |
| Adjustment on currency translation | (44) | (1) | (159) | (39) | (243) |
| Additions(b) | 416 | – | – | 116 | 532 |
| Amortisation for the year | – | (4) | (7) | (127) | (138) |
| Disposals, transfers and other movements(c) | (1,789) | – | – | 53 | (1,736) |
| At 31 December 2024 | 562 | 4 | 1,787 | 451 | 2,804 |
| –cost | 564 | 207 | 2,758 | 1,922 | 5,451 |
| –accumulated amortisation and impairment | (2) | (203) | (971) | (1,471) | (2,647) |
| Total | 562 | 4 | 1,787 | 451 | 2,804 |
| 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorationand evaluationUS$m | Trademarks, patented and non-patented technologyUS$m | Contract-based intangibleassetsUS$m | Otherintangible assets (a)US$m | TotalUS$m | |
| Net book value | |||||
| At 1 January 2023 | 1,368 | 12 | 1,875 | 390 | 3,645 |
| Adjustment on currency translation | – | 1 | 52 | 8 | 61 |
| Additions(d) | 471 | – | – | 121 | 592 |
| Amortisation for the year | – | (4) | (7) | (113) | (124) |
| Impairment reversal(d) | 231 | – | – | – | 231 |
| Newly consolidated operations(e) | 85 | – | – | – | 85 |
| Disposals, transfers and other movements | (176) | – | 33 | 42 | (101) |
| At 31 December 2023 | 1,979 | 9 | 1,953 | 448 | 4,389 |
| –cost | 1,989 | 222 | 2,996 | 1,926 | 7,133 |
| –accumulated amortisation and impairment(d) | (10) | (213) | (1,043) | (1,478) | (2,744) |
| Total | 1,979 | 9 | 1,953 | 448 | 4,389 |
(a)Other intangible assets include US$50 million (2023: US$61 million) of carbon abatement spend. This relates to procurement of carbon units and RECs, from which we will get future
economic benefit.
(b)In 2024, additions primarily relate to project costs incurred at Simandou prior to Board approval of “notice to proceed” in February 2024 and at Rincon from July 2024 following approval by
the Argentine Congress of the new “RIGI” legislation, which underpinned the economic business case, until Board notice to proceed in December 2024.
(c)“Transfers and other movements” includes reclassification between categories. In 2024, following approvals by the Board of notice to proceed, exploration and evaluation assets relating to
Simandou (US$732 million) and Rincon (US$1,013 million), were transferred in full to Property, plant and equipment after being assessed for indicators of impairment.
(d)In 2023, we commenced capitalisation of exploration and evaluation costs at the Simandou project based on our confidence in the project progressing, this also resulted in an impairment
reversal, refer to note 4 for details.
(e)In 2023, newly consolidated operations relate to our purchase of Meridian Minera Limitada’s 57.74% share in Agua de la Falda. Refer to note 5 for details.
12 Intangible assets continued
Where amortisation is calculated on a straight line basis, the following useful lives have been determined:
| Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology | Contract-based intangible assets | Other intangible assets | ||||
| Type of intangible | Trademarks | Patented and non-patented technology | Power contracts/water rights | Other purchase and customer contracts | Internally generated intangible assets and computer software | Other intangible assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amortisation profile | 14 to 20 years | 10 to 20 years | 2 to 45 years | 5 to 15 years | 2 to 5 years | 2 to 20 years |
13 Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, as defined in IAS 16 “Property, Plant and Equipment”, less accumulated depreciation and
accumulated impairment losses. The cost of property, plant and equipment includes, where applicable, the estimated close-down and
restoration costs associated with the asset.
Property, plant and equipment includes right-of-use assets arising from leasing arrangements, shown separately from owned and leasehold
assets.
Once an undeveloped mining project has been determined as commercially viable and approval to mine has been given, further expenditure is
capitalised under “capital works in progress” together with any amount transferred from “Exploration and evaluation”. Once the project enters
into an operation phase, the amounts capitalised in capital work in progress are reclassified to their respective asset categories.
Costs incurred while commissioning new assets, in the period before they are capable of operating in the manner intended by management, are
capitalised unless associated with pre-production revenue. Development costs incurred after the commencement of production are capitalised to the
extent they are expected to give rise to a future economic benefit. Interest on borrowings related to construction or development projects is
capitalised, at the rate payable on project-specific debt if applicable or at the Group or subsidiary’s cost of borrowing if not. This is performed until the
point when substantially all the activities that are necessary to make the asset ready for its intended use are complete. It may be appropriate to use a
subsidiary’s cost of borrowing when the debt was negotiated based on the financing requirements of that subsidiary.
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