EXHIBIT 99.9

Please direct all enquiries to:

Media Releasemedia.enquiries@riotinto.com

Rio Tinto and ENAMI sign binding agreement for Salares Altoandinos lithium project in Chile

24 July 2025

Rio Tinto and Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI), a state-owned Chilean mining company, signed a binding agreement to form a joint venture to develop the Salares Altoandinos lithium project in the Atacama region.

The signing follows a 23 May announcement of Rio Tinto’s nomination as the preferred partner for the project. As previously announced, Rio Tinto has agreed to acquire a controlling 51% interest in the project and provide up to $425 million cash and non-cash contributions including its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Technology. The cash contributions will include staged spending to sole fund the pre-feasibility study and further studies, subject to the joint venture progressing through investment stage-gates.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive Sinead Kaufmann said: “We are continuing to execute our strategy of building a world-class lithium portfolio to position Rio Tinto as a global leader in the responsible supply of critical minerals essential to the energy transition. The Salares Altoandinos project represents a significant opportunity to develop a large-scale, long-life, low-cost lithium brine resource. We are committed to the highest environmental standards and to ensuring any potential development is guided by transparent, respectful, and ongoing engagement with local communities in Chile’s Atacama region.” 

Media Release    

Contacts 

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations,   United Kingdom  Matthew Klar  M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493	Media Relations,   Australia  Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739  Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322  Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469	Media Relations,   Canada Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973  Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293  Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152  Media Relations,   US  Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480
Investor Relations,   United Kingdom  Rachel Arellano M: +44 7584 609 644 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978  Laura Brooks  M +44 7826 942 797  Weiwei Hu  M +44 7825 907 230	Investor Relations,   Australia  Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948  Phoebe Lee  M +61 413 557 780
Rio Tinto plc  6 St James’s Square  London SW1Y 4AD  United Kingdom  T +44 20 7781 2000  Registered in England  No. 719885	Rio Tinto Limited  Level 43, 120 Collins Street  Melbourne 3000  Australia  T +61 3 9283 3333  Registered in Australia  ABN 96 004 458 404

Media Release    

riotinto.com