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
Diesel is a common fuel in the mining industry, because diesel engines are powerful enough to move trucks that can be the size of a two-storey house on wheels, more than 7 metres tall, and carry hundreds of tonnes in every load.
But conventional diesel engines are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with diesel for our mobile fleet and rail representing approximately 13% of greenhouse gas emissions across our operations. Despite making advances globally in electrifying our mining fleets, we still rely on emissions-heavy fuel for transport, haulage and logistics.
In June 2023 our Boron operation in California in the US, we fully transitioned our heavy machinery from fossil diesel to renewable diesel – making it the first open pit mine in the world to achieve this milestone. The change to renewable diesel brings an anticipated CO2 equivalent reduction of up to 45,000 tonnes per year, comparable to eliminating the annual emissions of approximately 9,600 cars1. And it’s not just helping us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our diesel-powered haul truck fleet – it's also made from renewable materials.
"Renewable diesel is one of several sustainability solutions that Rio Tinto is using to transform its businesses," says Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive, Minerals.
"The transition at Boron is an important first step and will undoubtedly lead to further opportunities to decarbonise our global operations."
Renewable diesel is chemically identical to conventional diesel, but it’s created from renewable raw materials instead of crude oil. Because it’s so similar, we don’t need to modify our existing diesel engines – our existing fleet of diesel trucks, trains and mobile equipment can switch straight to using it. Renewable diesel generates far lower greenhouse gas emissions, and doesn’t have a shelf life, meaning its storage and distribution is far easier. And it meets the ASTM D975 specification for petroleum in the United States and EN 15940 in Europe.
Given the success at Boron, we’re now conducting a trial at our Kennecott copper operation in Utah.
We've partnered with Cummins to trial renewable diesel at Bingham Canyon to see if it’s reliable as an alternative fuel for different equipment in a different environment.
Over the seven-month trial, the team is testing acceleration, speed, cycle times, fuel usage, and engine inspection reports for two trucks running on renewable diesel versus two trucks running on conventional diesel, using the same methodology as the Boron team so they can compare the results.
“It is great seeing the trial launch at Kennecott, in the Salt Lake Valley where I live with my family, and knowing that Rio Tinto is committed to reducing its carbon footprint,” said Brian, Senior Engineer, Projects. “Many teams at Kennecott, and in the wider Rio Tinto, are involved in making this project a success, and so far the data is very promising.”
Diesel accounts for the largest portion of Kennecott’s greenhouse gas emissions, and renewable diesel could provide one component in the overall mix of solutions that will be needed for decarbonisation. Alongside this, Kennecott is also one of a number of our sites that are running a trial of battery electric vehicles, aiming to fully decarbonise our haul truck fleets over the longer term.
At Boron, we used Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, a hydrotreated vegetable oil made entirely from sustainably sourced renewable raw materials like used cooking oil and animal fat from the food industry. When used in its purest form, Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ can deliver up to 75% less greenhouse gas emissions over the full life cycle of the fuel than conventional diesel.2
The 7–month trial, started in 2022 in partnership with Neste and Rolls-Royce, showed trucks running on renewable diesel are as consistently reliable and efficient as trucks running on petroleum-based diesel, proving that it’s a viable alternative.
1 Source: United States Environment Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. 45,000 tonnes CO2e is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from 9,696 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.
2 The GHG emission reduction percentage varies depending on the region-specific legislation that provides the methodology for the calculations (e.g. EU RED II 2018/2001/EU for Europe and U.S. California LCFS for the U.S.), and the raw material mix used to manufacture the product for each market.
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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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