Rio Tinto switches to renewable diesel at Kennecott

This move is expected to reduce the mine's Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes, equivalent to eliminating the annual emissions of 107,000 cars.

Additionally, switching to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 emissions (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) from the tailpipes of our truck fleet by 40%, equivalent to a reduction of approximately 2.3 billion light vehicle miles traveled annually.

According to Rio Tinto, Kennecott now has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the country, thanks to recent initiatives such as closing a coal-fired power plant, installing a 5-megawatt solar farm, deploying battery electric vehicles underground, and transitioning to renewable diesel.

The company's overall CO2 footprint has now been reduced by more than 80% compared to 2018.

Combined with Rio Tinto's boron mine, which completed the full conversion of its heavy equipment from fossil diesel to renewable diesel in May 2023, Kennecott's use of renewable diesel replaces 11% of Rio Tinto's global fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel.

Rio Tinto aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.