Smart mining

Smart mining

Operating with pioneering spirit

The mining industry is changing rapidly.

The evolving expectations of our stakeholders, who rightly hold us to ever-higher standards around our business practices. Shifting global operating conditions, and issues such as climate change and resource scarcity. Exciting breakthroughs in science and technology that continually expand the boundaries of the possible.

All mining companies must adapt to these challenges to survive and thrive – but our ambition reaches much further.

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A pioneering spirit

Innovation is at the heart of everything Rio Tinto does. We are always seeking better, more productive ways to extract minerals from the earth while reducing environmental impacts and improving safety.

That’s why we are pioneering the use of automation in mining, operating driverless trucks and establishing the world’s first fully autonomous, heavy-haul, long-distance railway system.

We enhance existing products – and create new ones – to meet the growing demand for products essential to human progress. This might mean developing new aluminium alloys for the automotive industry, or supplying the quantity and quality of borates needed to produce high-specification touchscreen glass for smartphones and tablets. Partnering with our customers this way, we can anticipate market developments and innovate for success.

Putting people first

Whatever changes technology brings, our people will remain the heart of our business – and their safety will always be our primary concern. This commitment to safety is fundamental to how we operate. We continue to develop technologies and processes that protect our workers from harm.

Customers play an important role in driving innovation. They expect us to manage the impacts from our supply chain and provide assurance that our minerals and metals are produced responsibly.

Innovation is often about boosting productivity. But it’s also about finding a smarter way of doing things, reviewing and refining our processes, and replicating the things that work.

Transforming the future

Innovation is not a goal in itself: it is the path to creating shared value. By innovating, we can improve productivity from mine to market, while promoting long-term sustainability. We can foster a culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence. And we can lead the way in connecting extraction technologies, automated systems, and data analysis to transform the future of mining.