Rio Tinto Switches to Renewable Diesel at Kennecott By Investing.com

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Rio Tinto has completed the transition from conventional diesel to renewable diesel for all heavy mine equipment at its Kennecott Mine in Utah. This makes it one of the lowest carbon mines of any global copper producer. USA.

All 97 haul trucks and heavy-duty equipment at Kennecott’s mines, concentrators, smelters, refineries and tailings operations are fueled by renewable diesel1 sourced from the United States. This is expected to reduce the mine’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes, equivalent to reducing the annual emissions of 107,000 cars. Additionally, switching to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) emissions from the tailpipes of transport trucks by 40%. This is equivalent to approximately 2.3 billion miles traveled annually by light vehicles.

Kennecott is closing coal-fired power plants, installing a 5-megawatt solar power plant, deploying battery-electric vehicles underground, and switching to renewable diesel. The site’s overall carbon emissions are now more than 80% lower than 2018 levels.

Clayton Walker, Chief Operating Officer of Rio Tinto (NYSE:) Copper, said during an on-site event celebrating this achievement with Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox: At Kennecott, we have reduced our emissions by 80% thanks to a variety of initiatives in recent years. We are committed to being responsible stewards of the environment and are always looking for better ways to provide the materials the world needs for the energy transition.

Kennecott’s transition to renewable fuels will also provide greater access to low-carbon fuels in Utah. Working with Kennecott, HF Sinclair is providing two dedicated tanks for the mine’s renewable diesel, each with a capacity of 18,000 barrels, or 756,000 gallons.

Steven Ledbetter, Senior Vice President, Commercial, HF Sinclair, said: “We are proud to support Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey through the low-carbon fuels produced at our facilities. We look forward to seeing Kennecott move from the pilot phase to full implementation and what this could mean for other industries with evolving energy needs.

In 2023, Kennecott conducted an initial trial of renewable diesel comparing two trucks using conventional diesel and two trucks using renewable diesel. Officials measured the truck’s acceleration, cycle times, fuel usage and engine inspection reports. Renewable diesel has been successfully tested, complementing similar test results from Rio Tinto’s boron mine in California.

Combined with Rio Tinto’s boron mine fully converting its heavy equipment from fossil diesel to renewable diesel in May 2023, “ Kennecott’s use of renewable diesel will replace 11% of Rio Tinto’s global fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel .

Rio Tinto aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

1 The renewable diesel currently in use is a blend of 90% soybeans with the remainder being animal fat and waste cooking oil.

View original version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241028623382/en/

For all inquiries, please contact us below. media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK
Matthew Klar
middle +44 7796 630 637
David Outhwaite
middle +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Australia
mat chambers
middle +61 433 525 739
Michelle Lee
middle +61 458 609 322
Rachel Pupazzoni
middle +61 438 875 469

Media Relations, Canada
Simon Letendre
middle +1 514 796 4973
malika cherry
middle +1 418 592 7293
Vanessa Damha
middle +1 514 715 2152

American Media Relations
Jesse Riseborough
middle +1 202 394 9480

Investor Relations, UK
David Ovington
middle +44 7920 010 978
Laura Brooks
middle +44 7826 942 797
Weiweihu
middle +44 7825 907 230

Investor Relations, Australia
tom gallup
middle +61 439 353 948
Amar jumper
middle +61 472 865 948

rio tinto plc
6 St. James Square
London SW1Y 4AD
uk
tea +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in UK
Number 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
43rd floor, 120 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
australia
tea +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category – Kennecott

Source: Rio Tinto