Data reliability
Energy use includes the on-site consumption of fuels for power generation and mobile equipment, the use of purchased electricity and the use of carbon and coals for anodes and reductants. Energy associated with the use of explosives and the transport of product by third parties is not included.
The data used to compile this section are measured through metering at operations. The energy from purchased electricity is based on the actual amount that enters the operation and not on the total energy used to generate the electricity.
The information on the fuels used by electricity suppliers has been sourced from public information and the major electricity generators. This information is used to estimate the fuel mix of the purchased electricity consumed at Rio Tinto operations.
The coal source includes energy associated with petroleum coke used to make anodes for the aluminium process. The energy value from these products is determined using conversion factors based on the carbon content of the product.
In the 2004 Social and environment review highlights, energy use was reported as 231 petajoules. Since then, some operations have updated their methodologies and as a result the updated total for 2004 is 232 petajoules.
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