Rio Tinto to Launch Stand-Alone Lithium Division Following Arcadium Acquisition

Rio Tinto Group plans to establish a dedicated lithium unit, Rio Tinto Lithium, after completing its $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium PLC. According to an internal memo cited by Reuters on January 17, the new division will manage operations at the Rincon lithium project in Argentina. However, the Jadar lithium project in Serbia will remain under the parent company's control.

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm stated that the formation of the new division is intended to “ensure we give laser focus to successful integration once the transaction completes.” Paul Graves, currently serving as Arcadium’s CEO, is expected to lead Rio Tinto Lithium from New York.

The proposed acquisition of Arcadium Lithium received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States earlier in January. The deal is anticipated to close in July, at which point Rio Tinto will secure control over the world’s third-largest lithium reserves and resources. This acquisition aligns with Rio Tinto’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in the growing lithium market, critical for electric vehicle batteries and the global energy transition.