SALT LAKE CITY, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto has accomplished the transition from typical to renewable diesel for all heavy mining gear at its Kennecott mine in Utah, giving the mine one of many lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in america.
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 diesel1 sourced in america. That is anticipated to cut back the mine’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes, equal to eliminating the annual emissions of 107,000 automobiles. 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 car journey yearly.
Kennecott has one of many lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in america, because of current initiatives such because the closure of a coal-fired energy plant, set up of a 5-megawatt photo voltaic farm, deployment of battery electrical autos underground, and the transition to renewable diesel. The operation’s general carbon footprint has now been diminished by greater than 80% from 2018 ranges.
Talking at an occasion on website with the Governor of Utah, Spencer J. Cox, to have a good time the achievement, Rio Tinto (NYSE:) Copper Chief Working Officer Clayton Walker mentioned: The transition to renewable diesel is a big step towards our decarbonisation targets at Kennecott the place we have now now diminished emissions by 80%, because of a variety of initiatives in recent times. We stay dedicated to being accountable stewards of the setting and are all the time trying to discover higher methods to supply the supplies the world wants for the vitality transition.
Kennecott’s transition to renewable gas may 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.
HF Sinclair Government Vice President, Business, Steven Ledbetter mentioned: We’re proud to help Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey with a low-carbon gas produced at our services. 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 carried out 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 reviews. The renewable diesel was trialled efficiently, complementing comparable check findings from Rio Tinto’s Boron mine in California.
Mixed with Rio Tinto’s Boron mine – which accomplished the complete 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 international fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel.
Rio Tinto is concentrating on reductions in Scope 1 and a couple of emissions of fifty% by 2030 and internet zero by 2050.
1 The renewable diesel getting used is at present a mix of 90% soybean and the rest animal fats and used cooking oil.
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