Our history

Rio Tinto Energy America (RTEA) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Gillette, Wyoming. RTEA is part of the Rio Tinto Group of Companies, owned by Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc. Rio Tinto is a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources. The Group’s worldwide operations supply essential minerals and metals that help to meet global needs and contribute to improvements in living standards.

Rio Tinto founded Rio Tinto Energy America with the acquisition of the Spring Creek Coal and Antelope coal mines from PacifiCorp Holdings, Inc. on June 2, 1993, as part of the purchase of NERCO, Inc. Two days later, the Cordero Mining Company was purchased from Sun Company, Inc. Those purchases were followed by the acquisition of Colowyo Coal Company L.P. in 1994 from W.R. Grace Company, and Caballo Rojo, Inc. from Drummond Company, Inc in 1997. Cordero and Caballo Rojo subsequently merged to form the Cordero Rojo mine. RTEA acquired Jacobs Ranch mine from Kerr-McGee Corporation in 1998. After each acquisition, production from the acquired mine increased substantially.