Anglesey Aluminium is jointly owned by Rio Tinto Alcan and Kaiser Aluminium and was formed in 1971.

BBC: Anglesey Aluminium

The business unit of Rio Tinto that approached Meridian was Pacific Aluminium, the majority shareholder of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters.

FORBES: Rio Tinto's Aluminium Woes Continue

In a statement Rio Tinto s job cuts plans, Anglesey Aluminium said it was working "at assessing viable scenarios to safeguard operations on site beyond October 2009" but this required "a competitive and reliable source of energy" to be in place.

BBC: Metal plant 'safeguard work' aim

State-owned power generator Meridian Energy of New Zealand announced last week that Rio Tinto has approached it to renegotiate the electricity contract for its aluminium smelter at Bluff.

FORBES: Rio Tinto's Aluminium Woes Continue