Rio Tinto chief to step down

After four years at the helm, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm will be stepping down later this year. The miner said “a rigorous selection process is already underway” to find his successor. “Under Jakob’s leadership, Rio Tinto has restored trust with key stakeholders, aligned our portfolio with the commodities where demand growth is strongest, built a diverse and talented…

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Rio Tinto land exchange halted by judge

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from transferring land to Rio Tinto and BHP for their Resolution copper mine in Arizona, citing the Supreme Court’s ongoing deliberations in the complex case, reported Reuters. In an 18-page order, U.S. District Judge Steven Logan said the nonprofit Apache Stronghold was likely to succeed in its appeal to the…

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Diavik recognized for environmental excellence

Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine has been awarded the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Environmental Excellence Award for its solar power plant – the largest off-grid solar installation in Canada’s territories. “This recognition reflects our commitment to environmental responsibility and collaboration with our partners,” Chief Operating Officer of Diavik Diamond Mine Matthew Breen said. “This project demonstrates the potential for large-scale…

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Resolution Copper land swap gets green light

The Trump administration has moved forward with a proposed land swap for the Resolution Copper project in Arizona. The U.S. Forest Service said it has issued a legally required 60-day notice of the agency’s intent to republish an environmental report needed for the swap to occur. “We are encouraged to hear the U.S. Forest Service intends to republish the Final…

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Rio Tinto unearths rare yellow diamond in Canada

Rio Tinto has discovered one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds ever in Canada from its Diavik mine in the remote Northwest Territories of Canada. The 158.20 carat rough diamond is one of only five yellow diamonds weighing more than 100 carats ever unearthed at Diavik. The mine’s production primarily consists of white gem quality diamonds, with less than 1%…

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Rio Tinto confirms Arcadium Lithium deal

Rio Tinto has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion. The transaction, which will be implemented by way of a Jersey scheme of arrangement, is expected to close in mid-2025. “Acquiring Arcadium Lithium is a significant step forward in Rio Tinto’s long-term strategy, creating a world-class lithium business alongside our leading aluminum and copper operations to…

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Rio Tinto’s Kennecott expands solar power

Rio Tinto has approved construction of a new 25-megawatt solar plant at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah, bringing the mine’s total solar capacity to 30 MW. It will be located next to an existing 5-MW solar plant. “Expanding our solar farm is the latest step in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint. Together with other measures we’ve taken,…

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Rio Tinto exec seeks faster permitting under Trump

A Rio Tinto executive said U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s new administration should focus on speeding up the permitting process for its stalled Resolution copper mine in Arizona, reported Reuters. The mine could supply more than one-quarter of the country’s domestic copper needs. The new Trump administration would be able to either approve or block the proposed underground operation. The news…

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Kennecott completes switch to renewable diesel

Rio Tinto has finished the transition from conventional to renewable diesel for all heavy mining equipment at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah.  The miner said the move is expected to reduce Kennecott’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes. Additionally, the switch to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 emissions at the tailpipes of its haul truck fleet by 40%. “The transition…

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Diavik mine starts underground production

Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories has moved into commercial production at its A21 underground operation, which was developed beneath the previously mined A21 open pit. The construction of the underground mine involved the development of over 1,800 meters of underground tunnels to access the orebody. With safety as the core focus, the miner noted that there…

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