Rio Tinto signs on for two new projects expected to take Boyne aluminium smelter to 80 per cent renewables

Metals company Rio Tinto and renewable energy generation and storage provider Edify Energy have agreed to two deals aimed at increasing supply of “reliable, competitively priced electricity” to Rio’s Gladstone aluminium operations. According to a statement from Rio on Thursday, the solar and battery hybrid services agreements (HSAs) cover purchase of 90 per cent of…

Australian government pledges $2 billion assistance to aluminium industry

The Australian government has announced a $2 billion pledge to convert the nation’s aluminium smelters to renewable energy, which it said will be transformative and mark a significant step reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and enhancing its manufacturing sector’s competitiveness on a global scale. The investment is part of a broader initiative under the “Future…

BlueScope, BHP and Rio Tinto select Kwinana for 40,000 tpa green iron pilot plant

Steelmaker BlueScope and iron ore miners, BHP and Rio Tinto have selected Kwinana Industrial Area, south of Perth, to host an electric smelting furnace pilot plant, which aims to test and optimise lower-carbon emissions molten iron from Pilbara iron ore using direct reduced iron (DRI)-ESF technology.  Rio said the trio assessed a number of locations…

Fleet Space Technologies in big $150 million capital raising

Satellite manufacturer and space-based mineral detection company Fleet Space Technologies has closed a $150 million Series D funding round, led by Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), an arm of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Joined by existing investors Blackbird Ventures, Hostplus, Horizons Ventures, Artesian Venture Partners, and Alumni Ventures, the raising is one of the largest in…

Fleet Space and Rio collaborate on lithium exploration

Satellite and space services company Fleet Space Technologies will collaborate with Rio Tinto to advance exploration at its Rincon Lithium Project in Argentina. Leveraging Fleet Space’s AI and satellite enabled exploration solution, ExoSphere, Rio Tinto will develop 3D subsurface maps of the reservoir, basement depth, and brine influencing structures across 100km2 of the project’s salt…

Rio Tinto buys Mitsubishi’s share of Queensland aluminum smelter

The reordering of Australian and New Zealand alumina and aluminium production assets continues with Rio Tinto announcing it has completed the acquisition of Mitsubishi’s 11.65 percent stake in Boyne Smelters Limited. BSL owns and operates the Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Queensland which manufactures carbon anodes and aluminium, casting 295,000 tonnes of molten metal…

Fortescue and Liebherr’s $2.8 billion green mining equipment deal

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals and equipment manufacturer Liebherr have signed a $2.8 billion partnership aimed at developing zero emission mining solutions. The companies made their announcement, which included approximately 360 autonomous battery-electric trucks, 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers, at industry event MINExpo. The 475 new Liebherr machines represents about two thirds of…