Total emissions per tonne of product
Changes in Rio Tinto's total emissions per tonne of product results from changes in both the product mix and in the rate of emissions from production processes.
Total emissions per tonne of product, decreased by 1.7 per cent between 2004 and 2005. This contributed to a 0.9 per cent decrease between 2003 and 2005. Over the past five years there has been a 0.1 per cent increase in greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of product. In the above graph a positive gradient indicates an efficiency improvement.
Reasons for the improvement in efficiency since 2003 include:
- The return in 2005 to underground mining at Northparkes has resulted in increased production at significantly improved energy and emission efficiency.
- Production increase at a South African operation has improved its energy efficiency.
- Hydro-generated electricity has no associated emissions, consequently reductions in the use of electricity from hydro generation at Sorel and IOC provided no improvement in emission efficiency.
Rio Tinto has targeted a four per cent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of product between 2003 and 2008, based on efficiency improvements. We are currently behind this trajectory, 40 per cent down the five year path.
Total greenhouse gas emissions efficiency change compared to 2001 (%)
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