Rio Tinto calls on renewables to power Queensland aluminium operations
By Lachlan Abbott and Nick Toscano
Mining heavyweight Rio Tinto has issued a call for proposals to build large-scale wind and solar farms to help decarbonise its emissions-intensive Queensland aluminium assets.
As big emitters around the world face pressure to respond to global warming, Rio said it was seeking clean energy to power its Boyne smelter, Yarwun alumina refinery and Queensland Alumina refinery in the Gladstone area.
Rio Tinto is calling for renewable energy projects to power its Queensland aluminium operations.Credit:Will Willitts
The company said its Gladstone assets needed 1140 megawatts (MW) of electricity to operate, meaning 4000 MW of wind and solar energy was required. Rio said the potential renewable energy projects would be combined with so-called “firming” technologies, which could include batteries or fast-start gas plants - to supply power through all weather conditions for its aluminium assets through the Queensland grid by 2030.
“As Queensland’s largest energy user, we have an important role to play in driving the development of competitive renewable energy sources for our Gladstone assets and supporting the state’s renewable energy targets,” Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Ivan Vella said.
“It is early in the process, but this is an important step towards meeting both our Group climate change target of halving our emissions by the end of the decade and our commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.”
Last October, Rio Tinto escalated its targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its previous aim of a 15 per cent reduction, with a new commitment to halve its direct carbon footprint by 2030. The global miner also pledged to spend $US7.5 billion ($10 billion) on decarbonisation initiatives.
Climate advocacy group The Next Economy has recently been working with the Gladstone Regional Council to develop a renewable energy transition plan for the region. Its chief executive Amanda Cahill said Rio Tinto’s decision to move towards powering its aluminium operations in the area with renewables was “really good to see”.
“For a long time, there’s been a lot of talk, but when you see big players like Rio Tinto putting the money where their mouth is in terms of the decarbonisation process, it shows the big players are serious,” Cahill said.
“It’s going to boost confidence in renewable energy generation across the region and attract more investment.”
Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Ivan Vella said the company’s call for renewables to power Queensland aluminium operations would be a step towards meeting Rio’s net-zero emissions target.Credit:Trevor Collens
Queensland Conversation Council director Dave Copeman also said the organisation was “very pleased” with Rio Tinto’s plans.
“The world is moving towards renewable energy. If Queensland doesn’t keep up, we will be left with expensive and ageing fossil fuel assets. We will miss out on the future-proof jobs that renewables offer,” Copeman said.
Rio Tinto’s call for renewable energy to power its Queensland aluminium assets comes as it faces a lawsuit from Russian aluminium producer Rusal after Rio took sole control of the jointly owned Queensland Alumina refinery after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rusal is seeking to win back its 20 per cent share of refinery’s alumina, with the lawsuit challenging Australia’s approach to Russian firms and oligarchs tied to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
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