Green mining is not only green by name

27th October 2023 Green mining is not only green by name

The mining industry reaches various innovations. Innovations that minimize influences on the environment as well as reduce costs. One of the main goals that was set for the industry is reduction of the carbon dioxide. One of the answers to this call presents Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto aims to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This is in line with Scope 1 and Scope 2.

Solar plant in Kennecott copper mine

Recently Rio Tinto has almost completed construction on a new 5-megawatt solar power plant. The plant is being set up in the Kennecott copper mine in Utah. The solar panel investment will be finished in the coming weeks. It is calculated that 12800 solar panel power plants will enable the reduction of carbon dioxide of ca 3000 tonnes per year. The investment is the pilot project with a high possibility of expansion in the future.

Carbon dioxide reduction

According to Rio Tinto, shifting to sustainable energy solutions is a priority for Kennecott. The mine closed down its coal-fired power plant in 2019. Since then it has been moving towards electricity paired with renewable energy certificates. According to Rio Tinto, this resulted in a 65 percent reduction in its carbon footprint and the elimination of over 1 million tons of carbon dioxide output per year.

Nathan Foster said: “Rio Tinto Kennecott has a key role to play in supporting the energy transition. We supply U.S. companies with the copper and tellurium they need to produce solar panels, wind turbines, and conductors. We also continue to take steps to further decarbonize our business, from our battery electric vehicle trial to our renewable diesel trial and now to our very own solar plant.”

The location of the solar plant was carefully selected and evaluated within an assumption of mineralization of environmental and visual impact. Moreover, the surface of 30 acres has to be adjacent to other existing industrial operations, away from housing and commercial structures, and with earthen berms from the railway providing a visual barrier to most of the installation.

Importance of Kennecott mine

The importance of the Kennecott mine is due to the tellurium and cooper value chain. In 2022 Rio Tinto started the production of metals by mining and refining copper in Kennecott. This resulted in Rio Tinto being one of only two U.S. producers of this critical mineral.

*Source of the photo in the featured image: Rio Tinto Kennecott homepage.

Next WMC Congress

World Mining Congress

2026

The 27th World Mining Congress will be organized in 2026 in Peru.

Learn more
27th
Next IOC Meeting

IOC / WMC Meeting

2025

The 106th IOC/WMC meeting will be organized on September 18th 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Learn more
106th

Our news Others news

26th June 2025 BOEM approved first-ever request for critical mineral exploration in the deep sea

Seabeds raw minerals. Source; Photo by Nathan Langer on Unsplash

The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf holds immense promise for critical mineral resources vital to modern technology…

25th June 2025 Santa Cruz Copper Project with a strong Preliminary Feasibility Study

Ivanhoe Electric Inc. have made a press release where it has announced the completion of the…

23rd June 2025 Electrum Discovery Corp. unveils exploration breakthroughs at Timok East Copper-Gold

Gold bars. Source: Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash

Electrum Discovery Corp. has informed in a press release about the transformative findings from its recent…

17th June 2025 A game-changer in rare earth recycling

Aluminium recycled foil. Source: Unspalsh.

Cyclic Materials has made a press release about its transformative step forward in building a circular…

13th June 2025 Brazil’s rare earths boom – a new frontier for global supply chains

Various minerals. Source: Photo by Takemaru Hirai on Unsplash

As Bloomberg informs, the global demand for rare earth elements surges, Brazil is stepping into the…

10th June 2025 13 Strategic projects – strategic milestone for Europe’s economic security

European Union flags. Source: Alexandre - lallemand Unsplash.

The European Commission has unveiled its first list of 13 Strategic Projects focused on critical raw…

30th May 2025 Unlocking the future of sustainable seabed mining

Seabeds raw minerals. Source; Photo by Nathan Langer on Unsplash

Lately a significant milestone in sustainable resource development has just been reached by Impossible Metals Inc.,…

29th May 2025 Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine first project approved under new framework

The nuclear power plant at night. Source: Photo by Nicolas HIPPERT on Unsplash

The Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine in San Juan County, Utah, has just received approval from…

28th May 2025 Harmony Gold with a $1.03 billion USD bid for MAC Copper

Gold bars. Source: Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited has publicly announced a transformative step in the company's journey towards…

23rd May 2025 Gilar Mine begins production!

Miner and a truck in underground mine. Source: Photo by Munkh-Erdene Eenee on Unsplash.

Anglo Asian Mining has made a press release informing that it has commenced production at Gilar,…