Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
Innovation
Finding better ways to do things is in our DNA
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
Tailings
Details of our tailings facilities can be found on our interactive tailings disclosure map
Communities
The strength of our relationships with the communities where we operate, and broader society, is fundamental to our business
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
North America site visit, 24 September 2024
An investor site visit to our Aluminium operations in the Saguenay and our Iron & Titanium business in Sorel, Quebec, Canada
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Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
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Our new purpose, "finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs”, is a commitment to continuously improving what we contribute, as well as how we contribute.
Our work to decarbonise our operations in Africa is one way we’re putting our purpose into practice.
Just over a week ago, I returned from Madagascar where I saw the progress made on our soon-to-be completed 8MW solar power project. This project, which marks a step towards reducing our carbon emissions at our QMM mineral sands operation, will be complemented by a 12MW wind energy plant, which together, will provide 60% of QMM’s annual power needs on completion, this year.
Given QMM’s role as the primary power producer for the town of Fort Dauphin, beyond the decarbonisation benefits to our mine, this project means that nearly 80,000 of our host community members will be the end users of cleaner energy.
These renewable energy projects form part of a broader “sustainable mine” vision at QMM. This ambitious vision, which sets a path towards carbon neutrality, is well underway with the partnership of our government stakeholders, NGO partners and local communities.
As part of the sustainable mining vision, we are also establishing protected areas, ecological restoration, and afforestation for biodiversity conservation as well as carbon dioxide sequestration. So, not only are we reducing our carbon footprint throughout the life of mine, we also look forward, so that we can leave behind a sustainable legacy for the benefit of our host communities.
Sinead became Chief Executive of Minerals in March 2021.
Read Sinead's profile.
Recognising the uniqueness of Madagascar’s biodiversity, and in line with the aspirations of our purpose, we have been engaging with the Malagasy government and Asity Madagascar, in the development of a programme of nature-based solutions to halt and reverse the annual 1.6% loss of the Tsitongambarika (TGK) rainforest over the next 30 years. TGK is a lowland forest in the north of Fort Dauphin with such impressive flora and fauna that in 2001, using an internationally agreed set of criteria, the global NGO BirdLife International, designated the forest as an “Important Bird Area”. This recognition puts it in the company of world wonders such as the Snow Hill Island, off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, or the Thane Creek flamingo sanctuary in India.
While it is a privilege to have access to such rich beauty and biodiversity, we recognise the fact that we are short term guests and with that comes a responsibility to honor and protect these unique ecosystems and the long-term future of our host nations.
Our work on nature-based solutions is new, but it forms an integral part of our decarbonisation journey. And having successfully piloted a small-scale nature-based solution in Madagascar, we have seen its potential as a mechanism to put our purpose in to practice in a way that benefits both our host communities and the environment.
With the involvement of 2,300 community members, over 640,000 high carbon capture saplings were planted across 500 hectares of land. Of the spend required to achieve this, over 90% of it went directly to the community members. So, while on one hand we are securing high-quality carbon credits, on the other hand, we are helping to address community needs, while restoring precious forest land.
We are also exploring similar solutions elsewhere in Africa like Guinea, and in South Africa, where we are establishing partnerships to deliver nature-based solutions along the Kwa-Zulu Natal north coast near our Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation, which is also progressing its decarbonisation journey.
In October 2022, RBM announced a partnership with French energy company, Voltalia, to supply the operation with renewable energy from 2024. Under the agreement, a 148MW solar power plant (known as the Bolobedu Solar PV Project) will be built in Limpopo and the energy produced will be “wheeled” through the national grid to supply RBM's smelting and processing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa’s geographical and ecological diversity means that by placing the project in Limpopo, we can benefit from longer and more intense periods of sunshine than what we experience in KwaZulu-Natal, where we are located.
The Bolobedu Solar Project is an exciting partnership. Last month, construction of the solar plant commenced and over the coming months this will be ramped up to peak construction period estimated to create almost 700 jobs.
Once the plant becomes operational, it will have a permanent workforce of around 50 people and will cut RBM's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%. Put differently, in terms of emissions reduction, the impact of this solar plant will be the equivalent of removing 50,000 cars from South Africa’s roads.
Significant work is being done by my colleagues at RBM who, in addition to solar, are progressing work to source 200MW of wind energy, and developing the partnerships that we require to have RBM fully powered by renewables by 2040.
When speaking about RBM, many people think of it simply as a mine. But, in reality, RBM is a large mining and smelting complex with a hive of beneficiation activity, each with enormous energy demands. Significantly shifting our energy sources to renewables at RBM will drastically reduce our scope 2 emissions and free up power on the national grid for use in many South African homes.
As we work to decarbonise our business in Africa and globally, we will come up against challenges. While we may not always have all the answers, we will keep searching. And together with our partners in government, industry, civil society and in our host communities, we are committed to “finding better ways” to positively shape the sector’s future.
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With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
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