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Partnerships and investments

We are striving for new ways to do things and deeper partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities

Our in-house resources are augmented by an ecosystem of partners across the globe including universities, government research labs and start-ups.

Decarbonising our operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions)

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ARENA and Sumitomo

Refining and smelting

In partnership with Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Sumitomo Corporation, we’re building a first-of-a-kind hydrogen pilot plant at our Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.

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bp

Shipping

To reduce our carbon emissions from our marine fleet, we’re working with bp on a trial using marine biofuels on our RTM Tasman vessel. It’s one of the longest-duration marine biofuel trials to date, lasting 12 months. The trial will analyse a series of engine and fuel performance factors, including engine efficiency and fuel consumption, corrosion and degradation, microbial growth, temperature impact, fuel switching impacts and fuel stability.

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Caterpillar

Trucks and rail

We’re partnering with Caterpillar to help develop 220-tonne zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks. We’re also working with Caterpillar on validating their emerging zero-emissions technology. We will progress a series of development milestones to include a prototype pilot program, testing and pre-production trials.

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Carbfix

Carbon storage

Together with Carbfix, we are planning to permanently store carbon underground at our ISAL aluminium smelter in Iceland. Carbfix will use our land surrounding the ISAL smelter for onshore CO2 injection in the world’s first carbon mineral storage hub, the Coda Terminal. Our goal is to use the Carbfix technology to further decarbonise our operations.
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ELYSIS

Aluminium

Since 2018, we have partnered with Alcoa on ELYSIS, a limited partnership working on a breakthrough aluminium smelting technology that eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions and emits oxygen as a by-product. With the participation of the Canadian Government and the Quebec Government, and the support of Apple, ELYSIS is delivering a disruptive technology for the aluminium smelting industry.

In November 2021, ELYSIS achieved a major milestone by successfully producing aluminium without any direct greenhouse emissions at its Industrial Research and Development Center. We’re now accelerating the scale-up of ELYSIS™ technology to demonstrate even larger commercial-size cells, with the technology available for installation from 2024 and the production of larger volumes of carbon-free aluminium approximately 2 years later.

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ÉVOLYS

Biocarbon

In 2023, we partnered with Aymium to develop and trial a renewable biocarbon product for use as an alternative resource to reduce emissions in large scale industrial processes. The product has been successfully trialled as a replacement for anthracite used in ilmenite smelting processes at our metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, a world leading producer of high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock as well as iron and steel for specialised applications.

Together, we established a joint venture named Évolys that will revitalise a pulp mill located in Thurso, Quebec. Évolys will lead the production of responsible metallurgical biocarbon to reduce carbon emissions in Quebec. This biocarbon, sourced from biomass, offers an alternative to anthracite currently used in our Quebec Operations’ smelting process in Sorel-Tracy.
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Komatsu

Trucks and rail

We’re working with Komatsu to support their work on zero-emission mining haulage solutions, including haul trucks. We are conducting a pre-production trial of the new equipment at one of our sites and once they are commercially viable, we will have the option to purchase some of the first trucks from Komatsu.

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The Queensland Government

Refining and smelting

Together with the Queensland Government, we’re continuing to explore the opportunities the transition to clean energy may bring to Central Queensland, and how we can support the region in becoming an industrial and renewable energy powerhouse.

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Sichuan University

Carbon storage

We agreed to jointly research carbon dioxide mineralisation processes to capture carbon dioxide emissions and reduce solid waste with China’s Sichuan University. The collaboration aims to explore the optimal path of CO2 mineralisation through pilots at Rio Tinto related projects and to explore opportunities to commercialise the resulting solid waste and produce saleable products. 

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The Tasmanian Government

Refining and smelting

Together with the Tasmanian Government, we’re looking at how the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter’s manufacturing capability and electricity demand can help support the development of new industries and more renewable energy supply in the region. We’re also looking at how we can further decarbonise Bell Bay Aluminium and options for future investment to secure the competitiveness of the smelter.

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The US Department of Energy

Carbon storage

We’re exploring carbon storage potential at the Tamarack nickel joint venture in central Minnesota. This 3-year project is a part of a program funded by the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The project is exploring new approaches in carbon mineralisation technology as a way to safely and permanently store carbon as rock.

Helping our customers decarbonise (Scope 3 emissions)

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BlueScope

Steel

We’re working with BlueScope on low-emissions processes for the steel value chain, including iron ore processing, iron and steelmaking and related technologies. The joint project includes exploring low-carbon steelmaking pathways using Pilbara iron ores at the Port Kembla Steelworks, including the use of green hydrogen in a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) process.

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BMW

Aluminium

We’re working with BMW Group to develop more responsible, sustainable, traceable and secure supply chains. We’ll provide responsibly sourced aluminium to the BMW Group’s vehicle production plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for use in body components from 2024. Our technical experts will also work together to embed low-carbon solutions into BMW Group’s supply chain.
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China Baowu Steel Group

Steel

As part of our work to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental performance across the steel value chain, we’re exploring low-carbon steelmaking projects and research together with China Baowu Steel Group, the world’s largest steel producer.

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Ford

Multi materials

We’re working with Ford Motor Company to jointly develop more sustainable and secure supply chains for battery and low-carbon materials to be used in Ford vehicles.
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Inobat

Battery materials

We’re working with InoBat, a European battery technology and manufacturing company, supporting the development of a battery ecosystem covers the full commodity lifecycle from mining through to recycling.

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Marubeni

Aluminium

We’re working with Japanese trader and business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation to secure a sustainable and reliable supply of Rio Tinto’s responsible aluminium products to Japanese downstream manufacturers, providing a simple, integrated way to reduce carbon footprints, disclose lifecycle assessment (LCA), and source responsibly.
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Nippon Steel

Steel

We’re working with Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan’s largest steel producer, to explore, develop and demonstrate technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain. We’re looking at a breadth of technologies to decarbonise the entire steel value chain from iron ore mining to steelmaking, including integrating our iron ore processing technology and Nippon Steel's steelmaking technology to establish an innovative steel manufacturing process with low carbon emissions.

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POSCO

Steel

Together with POSCO, the largest steel producer in South Korea and one of the world’s leading steel producers, we’re exploring technologies to transition to a low-carbon emission steel value chain. We will look at a range of technologies for decarbonisation across the entire steel value chain from iron ore mining to steelmaking, including integrating our iron ore processing technology and POSCO’s steelmaking technology.

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Prysmian Group

Aluminium

We’re partnering with cable solution provider Prysmian to build a more sustainable North American supply chain for materials needed to expand power grids for the energy transition. We’ll share technologies, research and development capabilities, and technical expertise to develop multi-material solutions in support of North America’s growing electrification demand.
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Salzgitter

Steel

Together with Salzgitter Flachstahl, we’re exploring carbon-free steelmaking through the use of our iron ore products in Salzgitter’s SALCOS green steel project in Germany. We’re looking at optimising iron ore pellets, lump and fines for use in hydrogen direct reduction steelmaking, and we’re also considering greenhouse gas emission certification across the steel value chain.

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Schneider Electric

Aluminium

We’re working with Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, in a first of its kind collaboration to develop a circular and sustainable market ecosystem for both our companies. Schneider Electric are using our responsibly sourced materials, such as low-carbon aluminium, copper, iron ore and borates. On our side, we use Schneider Electric’s energy and industrial services, as we work together to develop digital platforms, technologies and solutions to be introduced across the metals and mining supply chain to drive further decarbonisation.

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Tsinghua University

Steel

As part of our commitment to sustainable development, we’re funding research projects at China’s Tsinghua University and the Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development. The research is exploring how we can reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental performance across the steel value chain. 
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Volvo

Multi materials

We’re supplying responsibly sourced low-carbon products and solutions to Volvo Group and will be working with them to decarbonise our operations as we pilot Volvo Group’s sustainable autonomous hauling solutions. The partnership aims to secure supplies of materials including lithium, low-carbon aluminium, copper and metallics.

Technology and automation

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AROSE

Technology and automation

In 2022 we joined AROSE with other resource and space companies to both leverage our remote operations expertise in space to optimise the learnings for terrestrial applications as well as understand how we can accelerate the knowledge learnt from space technology to solve critical challenges on earth.

Michelle Keegan, AROSE's Program Director, explains how mining's remote operations could translate to Space.

Environment

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Ministry of Environment and Tourism Mongolia

Climate change and desertification

We’re working with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia on a range of initiatives to combat climate change and desertification.

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