Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our business
We operate in 35 countries where our 60,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Enabling ESG transparency
Our START™ initiative tracks traceability and responsible production of Rio Tinto materials.
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Reports 2024
Download our 2024 suite of reports, including our 2024 Taxes and Royalties Paid Report, detailing $8.4 billion of taxes and royalties paid globally during the year
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Things You Can't Live Without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
Refuelling the mining industry
How can we power the world’s biggest machines with new fuel solutions?
Forging a low-carbon future
How we're working to decarbonise iron ore and steel
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Graduates and students
If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it
Empowering families with flexibility
Supporting new parents of any gender with equal access to parental leave
Available jobs
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The materials we mine and refine are vital for a renewable future. But producing them uses a lot of energy. So we're working closely with partners around the world to find new and better ways to power our operations.
One way we're working towards that is through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with European Energy. We’ll buy all power generated from their 1.1GW Upper Calliope Solar Farm – Australia's largest solar power project.
Here are 5 reasons we're energised about this development:
Once approved, the project will span 2,700 hectares and it’ll generate enough electricity to meet about 5% of Queensland’s current demand.
And if combined with more renewable power and suitable firming, transmission and industrial policy, it could provide the core of a solution to repower our three Gladstone production assets - the Boyne aluminium smelter, the Yarwun alumina refinery and the Queensland Alumina refinery.
Renewable Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs, are contracts to buy power from energy suppliers, who will produce it from renewable sources.
Under the terms of the PPA, we’ll be able to access 100% of the renewable energy from the facility for 25 years. Once approved, the plant will be built and operated by European Energy, at a site about 50 kilometres south-west of Gladstone, pending development and grid connection approvals.
Pending approval, construction of the Upper Calliope plant is targeted to start in 2025 or 2026. It’s expected to take 2 years to construct, will employ 1,000 people during construction, and support 100 direct and indirect jobs when operating.
Once approved and developed, Upper Calliope would have the potential to lower carbon emissions from our operations by 1.8 million tonnes per year.
We recognise decarbonsing our Gladstone assets is essential to meeting our 2030 carbon reduction targets, however, it’ll require the delivery of complex technical and commercial solutions supported by governments.
Economically repowering large, energy-intensive assets is a highly complicated and challenging process. We still need more renewable power, from projects around Queensland, and suitable firming, transmission and industrial policy.
So we’re continuing to work closely with all stakeholders, including the Queensland and Australian governments, on a path forward.