Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our business
We operate in 35 countries where our 57,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Decarbonisation progress update
We have a clear plan on decarbonisation - find out more about our progress in 2024
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Investor seminars
Our Investor seminar will be held in London on 4 December, and our Decarbonisation update on 5 December
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Things you can't live without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Graduates and students
If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it
Empowering families with flexibility
Supporting new parents of any gender with equal access to parental leave
Available jobs
Join our team
Our in-house resources are augmented by an ecosystem of partners across the globe including universities, government research labs and start-ups.
Refining and smelting
In partnership with Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Sumitomo Corporation, we’re building a first-of-a-kind hydrogen pilot plant at our Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.
Shipping
To reduce our carbon emissions from our marine fleet, we’re working with bp on a trial using marine biofuels on our RTM Tasman vessel. It’s one of the longest-duration marine biofuel trials to date, lasting 12 months. The trial will analyse a series of engine and fuel performance factors, including engine efficiency and fuel consumption, corrosion and degradation, microbial growth, temperature impact, fuel switching impacts and fuel stability.
Trucks and rail
We’re partnering with Caterpillar to help develop 220-tonne zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks. We’re also working with Caterpillar on validating their emerging zero-emissions technology. We will progress a series of development milestones to include a prototype pilot program, testing and pre-production trials.
Carbon storage
Aluminium
Since 2018, we have partnered with Alcoa on ELYSIS, a limited partnership working on a breakthrough aluminium smelting technology that eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions and emits oxygen as a by-product. With the participation of the Canadian Government and the Quebec Government, and the support of Apple, ELYSIS is delivering a disruptive technology for the aluminium smelting industry.
In November 2021, ELYSIS achieved a major milestone by successfully producing aluminium without any direct greenhouse emissions at its Industrial Research and Development Center. We’re now accelerating the scale-up of ELYSIS™ technology to demonstrate even larger commercial-size cells, with the technology available for installation from 2024 and the production of larger volumes of carbon-free aluminium approximately 2 years later.
Biocarbon
We’re working with Komatsu to support their work on zero-emission mining haulage solutions, including haul trucks. We are conducting a pre-production trial of the new equipment at one of our sites and once they are commercially viable, we will have the option to purchase some of the first trucks from Komatsu.
Together with the Queensland Government, we’re continuing to explore the opportunities the transition to clean energy may bring to Central Queensland, and how we can support the region in becoming an industrial and renewable energy powerhouse.
We agreed to jointly research carbon dioxide mineralisation processes to capture carbon dioxide emissions and reduce solid waste with China’s Sichuan University. The collaboration aims to explore the optimal path of CO2 mineralisation through pilots at Rio Tinto related projects and to explore opportunities to commercialise the resulting solid waste and produce saleable products.
Together with the Tasmanian Government, we’re looking at how the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter’s manufacturing capability and electricity demand can help support the development of new industries and more renewable energy supply in the region. We’re also looking at how we can further decarbonise Bell Bay Aluminium and options for future investment to secure the competitiveness of the smelter.
Steel
We’re working with BlueScope on low-emissions processes for the steel value chain, including iron ore processing, iron and steelmaking and related technologies. The joint project includes exploring low-carbon steelmaking pathways using Pilbara iron ores at the Port Kembla Steelworks, including the use of green hydrogen in a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) process.
As part of our work to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental performance across the steel value chain, we’re exploring low-carbon steelmaking projects and research together with China Baowu Steel Group, the world’s largest steel producer.
Multi materials
Battery materials
We’re working with InoBat, a European battery technology and manufacturing company, supporting the development of a battery ecosystem covers the full commodity lifecycle from mining through to recycling.
We’re working with Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan’s largest steel producer, to explore, develop and demonstrate technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain. We’re looking at a breadth of technologies to decarbonise the entire steel value chain from iron ore mining to steelmaking, including integrating our iron ore processing technology and Nippon Steel's steelmaking technology to establish an innovative steel manufacturing process with low carbon emissions.
Together with POSCO, the largest steel producer in South Korea and one of the world’s leading steel producers, we’re exploring technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain. We will look at a range of technologies for decarbonisation across the entire steel value chain from iron ore mining to steelmaking, including integrating our iron ore processing technology and POSCO’s steelmaking technology.
Together with Salzgitter Flachstahl, we’re exploring carbon-free steelmaking through the use of our iron ore products in Salzgitter’s SALCOS green steel project in Germany. We’re looking at optimising iron ore pellets, lump and fines for use in hydrogen direct reduction steelmaking, and we’re also considering greenhouse gas emission certification across the steel value chain.
We’re working with Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, in a first of its kind collaboration to develop a circular and sustainable market ecosystem for both our companies. Schneider Electric are using our responsibly sourced materials, such as low-carbon aluminium, copper, iron ore and borates. On our side, we use Schneider Electric’s energy and industrial services, as we work together to develop digital platforms, technologies and solutions to be introduced across the metals and mining supply chain to drive further decarbonisation.
Technology and automation
In 2022 we joined AROSE with other resource and space companies to both leverage our remote operations expertise in space to optimise the learnings for terrestrial applications as well as understand how we can accelerate the knowledge learnt from space technology to solve critical challenges on earth.
Climate change and desertification
We’re working with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia on a range of initiatives to combat climate change and desertification.
How we process personal data provided or obtained through this website.
With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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