The measure is expected to reduce the mine’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tonnes, equivalent to eliminating the annual emissions of 107,000 cars.

In addition, switching to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns) emissions at the tailpipes of our fleet by 40%, a reduction equivalent to approximately 4.7 billion kilometers of light vehicle journeys per year.

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 the closure of a coal-fired power plant, the installation of a 5-megawatt solar farm, the deployment of EV underground, and the transition to renewable diesel .

The company’s overall carbon footprint has now been reduced by more than 80% compared to 2018 levels.

Combined with Rio Tinto’s boron mine – which completed the full transition of its heavy machinery from fossil diesel to renewable diesel in May 2023 – the use of renewable diesel at Kennecott replaces 11% of Rio Tinto’s global fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel.

Rio Tinto is targeting a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and a net zero reduction by 2050.