Rio Tinto said it will transition its fleet of 90 haul trucks and all heavy machinery to renewable diesel at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah next year. The decision comes after a successful seven-month trial at Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon mine.
“Transitioning Kennecott completely to renewable diesel builds on a suite of decarbonization initiatives that have reduced carbon emissions from the operation by 65% since 2019,” said Rio Tinto Copper COO Clayton Walker.
“This is an important next step in our commitment to finding new and better ways to reduce operational emissions, while producing materials essential to the global energy transition.”
The transition will reduce Kennecott’s Scope 1 carbon emissions by 495,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per annum. Rio Tinto is targeting reductions of 50% in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The renewable diesel will be supplied through the existing diesel supply chain, as part of a continuing partnership between Kennecott and HF Sinclair.
Source: Rio Tinto