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
Get the latest news, stories and updates
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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One of the challenges of producing aluminium responsibly is finding ways to decarbonise the way it’s made.
While aluminium is essential for low-carbon solutions, including lightweight cars and energy efficient buildings, it takes a lot of energy to produce.
In 2018 we partnered with Alcoa, supported by Apple and the Governments of Canada and Quebec, on ELYSIS, a joint venture to help further develop breakthrough aluminium smelting technology that produces no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The technology will eliminate all direct GHGs from the traditional aluminium smelting process, instead producing oxygen.
It has the potential to transform the aluminium industry through a significant reduction in its carbon footprint. In Canada alone, using the ELYSISTM technology has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 6.5 million metric tons – the equivalent of removing 1.8 million cars from the roads.
The technology – which can be used in both new and existing aluminium smelters – will also reduce operating costs at aluminium smelters, while increasing production capacity.
Importantly, it will also help aluminium customers to decarbonise their supply chain, in line with growing demand from consumers. The aluminium produced has been used in trials by Apple, Corona Canada and Michelob Ultra.
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our customers and our supply chains, and it will take a coordinated effort to make meaningful progress.
We have a range of R&D and supply chain partnerships to both reduce our footprint and meet customer needs across a wide range of environmental, social and governance challenges – from carbon emissions to extracting critical minerals from waste.
In November 2021, ELYSIS achieved a major milestone by successfully producing aluminium without any direct GHG emissions at its Industrial Research and Development Center in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. There is still more work to do before the technology can be used at a commercial scale.
We recently announced that we will use the first technology licence issued by the ELYSIS joint venture to install carbon free smelting cells at our Arvida smelter in Quebec, Canada. We will design, engineer and build a demonstration plant with the capacity to produce up to 2,500 tonnes of commercial quality aluminium per year without direct greenhouse gas emissions. This critical step will support the ongoing development of the ELYSISTM technology and enable us to build expertise in its installation and operation.
The focus of the joint venture is on accelerating the scale-up of the technology towards the demonstration of even larger commercial-size cells. ELYSIS has completed the construction of prototype 450 kA cells at the end of an existing potline at Rio Tinto’s Alma smelter. This is the commercial scale for many large, modern aluminium smelters, and a larger size than what has already been successfully operated. ELYSIS has begun commissioning activities, with the start-up sequence set to begin in 2024.
ELYSIS is a technology company created through a partnership between Alcoa and Rio Tinto. ELYSIS’ goal is to revolutionise the way aluminium is produced across the globe. Our process eliminates all direct greenhouse gases from aluminium smelting, and instead produces oxygen. Alcoa, Rio Tinto, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec provided a combined investment of C$228 million to create ELYSIS and to see this technology reach commercial maturity.
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With the exception of the use of cookies, 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.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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