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We operate in 35 countries where our 60,000+ employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
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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
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Aluminium
Lightweight and infinitely recyclable, aluminium is found in everything from jet engines to electric vehicles to mobile phones
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
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Western Australia
While iron ore is central to our operations in WA, we have a diverse presence across the state, from salt, lithium, our diamond legacy and our promising copper-gold project
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
2026 Third Quarter Operations Review
Announced on Wednesday 14 October 2026
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Supplying a new era of growth
AI, digital infrastructure and electrification are driving new demand for our metals and minerals
What is block caving?
An innovative underground mining method using gravity to help extract ore from deep copper and gold deposits
How aluminium is made and why it matters
The journey from red rock to the metal we use every day
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Rio Tinto welcomes the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's (ARENA) announcement of funding support for a feasibility study into an industrial-scale demonstration of the use of thermal energy storage at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone. If the study is successful and a decision is made to proceed to execution, Rio Tinto and ARENA will fund an industrial-scale demonstration of thermal energy storage project at Yarwun, using electrification to reduce fossil fuel use. Alumina refining is energy-intensive and requires significant heat to generate steam. The study will assess the technical and economic viability of using thermal energy storage to generate high-pressure steam for alumina refining, potentially reducing Yarwun’s reliance on coal and natural gas. Funding will be provided in stages. ARENA will contribute A$3.6 million towards the study. Following successful completion of the study and a decision to proceed, ARENA will provide up to A$38 million for deployment and has also approved up to A$33.3 million in conditional support to address specific project risks, including electricity costs and contingency. Rio Tinto will match ARENA’s A$3.6 million contribution towards the feasibility study and, if the project proceeds, will continue to invest in its deployment and operation. Rio Tinto’s total contribution over the life of the project is expected to exceed ARENA’s funding. The proposed project would use Rondo Energy's thermal energy storage technology to convert electricity into heat, which is stored in refractory bricks and released to generate steam for refinery operations. If approved, it could supply around 5% of Yarwun's steam requirements and reduce the refinery's Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by about 67,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. Rio Tinto assessed a range of thermal energy storage solutions before selecting Rondo Energy’s technology for the study, based on its technical maturity. Rio Tinto Pacific Operations Managing Director Armando Torres said: “Reducing emissions from alumina refining is complex, particularly when it comes to generating the high-pressure steam needed for our operations. “This study will help us determine whether thermal energy storage can provide a technically and economically viable alternative to fossil fuels for part of Yarwun’s steam requirements.
“The best way to tackle challenges of this scale is through collaboration between industry, government, and technology partners. We welcome ARENA’s support as we assess technologies that could help reduce our Scope 1 emissions while maintaining reliable operations at Yarwun.”
The feasibility study is expected to take about 12 months, with the findings to inform decisions on whether the project proceeds to execution. The project forms part of Rio Tinto’s broader work to assess technologies that could reduce emissions from alumina refining, including its Yarwun Hydrogen Calcination Pilot Demonstration Program. For more information, read ARENA's announcement.