Rio Tinto CEO woos Modi to develop diamond mine

New Delhi

RIO Tinto Group's chief executive officer Sam Walsh has pressed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approvals to develop the nation's first diamond discovery in 40 years and set up a US$2 billion iron-ore project.

Mr Walsh has spoken with Mr Modi three times in the past six months on the planned US$500 million Bunder diamond mine and the Odisha iron ore project in eastern India, he told reporters on Monday in New Delhi. Talks have also focused on the prospects of uranium exports to India and on coal mining opportunities, Mr Walsh said.