Rio Tinto transitions to renewable diesel at Kennecott.
Rio Tinto has accomplished the transition from standard to renewable diesel for all heavy mining gear at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, giving the mine one of many lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the USA.
Kennecott’s fleet of 97 haul vehicles and heavy equipment gear on the mine, concentrator, smelter, refinery and tailings at the moment are all fueled by renewable diesel 1 sourced in the USA. That is anticipated to scale back the mine’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes, equal to eliminating the annual emissions of 107,000 vehicles. As well as, the change to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 (particulate matter lower than 2.5 microns) emissions on the tailpipes of our haul truck fleet by 40%, a discount equal to roughly 2.3 billion miles of sunshine automobile journey yearly.
Kennecott has one of many lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the USA, because of latest initiatives such because the closure of a coal-fired energy plant, set up of a 5-megawatt photo voltaic farm, deployment of battery electrical automobiles underground, and the transition to renewable diesel. The operation’s general carbon footprint has now been decreased by greater than 80% from 2018 ranges.
Talking at an occasion on web site with the Governor of Utah, Spencer J. Cox, to rejoice the achievement, Rio Tinto Copper Chief Working Officer Clayton Walker mentioned:
The transition to renewable diesel is a big step towards our decarbonisation targets at Kennecott the place now we have now decreased emissions by 80%, because of a variety of initiatives in recent times.
“We stay dedicated to being accountable stewards of the surroundings and are at all times trying to discover higher methods to supply the supplies the world wants for the vitality transition.”
Kennecott’s transition to renewable gas can even make low-carbon gas extra accessible within the state of Utah. In partnership with Kennecott, HF Sinclair is dedicating two tanks to renewable diesel for the mine with every having tank capability of 18,000 barrels or 756,000 gallons.
Steven Ledbetter, HF Sinclair Govt Vice President, Industrial, mentioned:
We’re proud to assist Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey with a low-carbon gas produced at our amenities.
“We’re excited to see Kennecott transfer from trial to full implementation and what this might imply for different industries with evolving vitality wants.”
In 2023, Kennecott performed an preliminary trial of renewable diesel, which in contrast two vehicles utilizing common diesel towards two utilizing renewable diesel. Officers measured the vehicles’ acceleration, cycle time, gas utilization, and engine inspection studies. The renewable diesel was trialled efficiently, complementing related take a look at findings from Rio Tinto’s Boron mine in California.
Mixed with Rio Tinto’s Boron mine – which accomplished the total transition of its heavy equipment from fossil diesel to renewable diesel in Could 2023 – renewable diesel use at Kennecott replaces 11% of Rio Tinto’s world fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel.
Rio Tinto is concentrating on reductions in Scope 1 and a pair of emissions of fifty% by 2030 and internet zero by 2050.
1 The renewable diesel getting used is at the moment a mix of 90% soybean and the rest animal fats and used cooking oil.
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Rio Tinto transitions to renewable diesel at Kennecott. supply
