Rio confirmed that the employee was fatally injured while completing routine maintenance work yesterday afternoon.

According to the NT News, the victim was 54-year-old fitter Darryl Manderson.

Police, ambulance and the site emergency response team attended to the incident.



"Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee's family and colleagues at this time," Gove Operations general manager Ryan Cavanagh said.

"Our immediate priority is to provide any assistance needed to support the employee's family and colleagues following this tragic incident."

Cavanagh said all operations at the mine would be paused.



"The operation has also ceased all hazardous work on site as well as materials handling, all planned maintenance and all non-essential refinery activity for at least the next 24 hours," he said.



Rio has launched an investigation into the incident and said it was working closely with the relevant authorities.

In November last year, Rio announced it would suspend alumina production at Gove because the refinery was no longer viable.

Production will be phased out this year with the company to focus on bauxite mining at the operation.