© Reuters/POOL
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern addresses the media after a debate in Auckland


WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that she will negotiate to extend the operations of Rio Tinto’s aluminum smelter in the country by 3-5 years if she is returned to power in the Oct. 17 election.

New Zealand Aluminum Smelter’s (NZAS) planned closure is a hot election topic as it puts thousands of jobs at risk, and would hit the bottom line of top power producers, at a time when the country is reeling from the economic impact of coronavirus.

The world’s biggest iron ore miner has said it was closing the plant by August 2021 due to high costs and a challenging market.

“We are seeking to extend the life of the smelter between 3 to 5 years…,” Ardern said at a news conference in Invercargill in Southland,