Tag Archives: Rio Tinto

Primero to deliver non-process infrastructure for Rio Tinto’s Western Range site

Mine operation news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

NRW Holdings says its wholly owned subsidiary, Primero Group Limited, has been awarded a contract by Rio Tinto for work at the Western Range mine site, within the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

Under the contract, Primero will be responsible for the design, supply, construction and commissioning of the non-process infrastructure facilities on site. This includes the refuelling facility, mobile equipment maintenance facility, primary crusher maintenance facility, washdown facilities, wastewater treatment plant and water infrastructure.

The contract is scheduled to run for approximately 12 months commencing in April 2023 and has an approximate value of A$54 million ($35 million).

NRW’s Managing Director, Jules Pemberton, said: “This is an exciting opportunity as we continue to reinforce our long-term relationship with Rio Tinto through the delivery of world-class, non-process infrastructure, design and construction performed in-house by Primero
Group.”

Rio Tinto Kennecott joins Terelion’s Circularity Program focused on cemented carbide recycling

Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

Rio Tinto Kennecott’s (Salt Lake City, USA) site has joined Terelion’s Circularity Program in what the drill bits company says marks a significant milestone in delivering on its ambitious goal of achieving circularity throughout the whole value chain.

Cemented carbide is a key component in high-quality drill bits. One important ingredient in the manufacturing is tungsten, a rare mineral difficult to come by. Through Terelion’s Circularity program, it is now possible to recycle all cemented carbide inserts on a drill bit back to virgin material – pure tungsten – which can then be used in manufacturing new cemented carbide inserts. Tools from recycled solid carbide require 70% less energy which results in 40% less CO2 emissions.

Graeme McKenzie, Operations Director at Terelion, said: “At Terelion, we are committed to working towards a more sustainable mining future. Doing so will benefit all: our planet, our customers and our business. Our aim is 90% circularity by 2030. Key in achieving this is our Circularity Program. We are very happy that Rio Tinto Kennecott shares this ambition and has decided to join our program – a clear testament also to their commitment in this area. We look forward to a successful partnership that ultimately encourages others to join this exciting initiative.”

The process of separating cemented carbide inserts from the steel body of the drill bit is done through an elaborate heating process. The inserts are then gathered and shipped to Terelion’s recycling partner – saving more than 90% of shipping emissions in the process (compared to shipping the complete drill bits).

The used products are collected on site at Kennecott and transported to a partner where the dull tungsten carbide drill bits are separated from the steel. The used carbide inserts are then sent to a process plant in Austria where they are transformed back to its original powder form, and then made into new tungsten carbide inserts that are used as the raw material for making new drill bits.

The Terelion Circularity program for tungsten carbide drill bits at the Rio Tinto Kennecott mine is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions related to carbide drill bits by 64%. The energy consumption will be reduced by 70% compared with sourcing tungsten carbide via conventional mining methods.

Rio Tinto Kennecott General Manager Minerals, Brendan Murphy, said: “We’re always looking for new and inventive ways to reduce our carbon footprint and cut waste. We are excited to support this innovative circularity program and look forward to seeing the difference it can make.”

A ceremony taking place at the Rio Tinto Kennecott Mine on May 23, 2023, marked the start of the circularity program between the two companies.

BHP, Rio Tinto extend tailings dewatering and management collaboration

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BHP and Rio Tinto have joined together to invite expressions of interest from technology providers, equipment manufacturers, reagent suppliers, startups and research groups across the globe with innovative ideas and technologies to help improve tailings dewatering and management performance.

The global miners aim to jointly identify a portfolio of tailings management partners with whom they can work to accelerate the development of technologies that could increase water recovery and reduce potential safety risks and environmental footprints associated with tailings storage facilities, they say.

The search for new partners comes as the two companies have now entered into a new agreement to extend their collaboration beyond the previously announced trial of a large-volume tailings filter unit at a BHP copper mine in Chile.

BHP Head of Sustainability Innovation, Ingrid Oyarzun, said: “There are so many innovative thinkers out there and we want to bring them in as partners to help us improve in this critical area for safety and sustainability of our operations.”

Rio Tinto Chief Advisor Research and Development, Saskia Duyvesteyn, said: “We want to tap into the wealth of great ideas and innovations we know are out there and work together to find ways to improve safety and reduce the environmental footprint of tailings facilities.”

Tailings management includes tailings dewatering and transport technologies, chemical amendment and dust mitigation. Ideas and technologies considered may be market-ready for mining, involve technologies previously applied in other industries, or may be original ideas at earliest stages of research and development.

Interested parties are invited to obtain further information about the process and submit their expression of interest in becoming involved by visiting www.tailingsopencall.com

Gradiant’s process water solutions to be used at SLB, Rio Tinto operations

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Gradiant, a global solutions provider and developer for advanced water and wastewater treatment, has announced partnerships with SLB (formerly Schlumberger), Rio Tinto and an Australia-based global mining company to, it says, improve productivity and sustainability in the mining industry with a focus on reducing carbon and water footprints.

The projects are in the US and Western Australia for resource recovery of critical minerals and industrial process water.

Gradiant’s collaborations with SLB and the Australia-based global mining company target the recovery of valuable metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt. The mining of these materials is highly complex and water intensive. Moreover, with increased market demand and environmental regulations, businesses must identify cost-effective and sustainable technologies. Gradiant’s technologies enable sustainable, efficient and economical water governance through end-to-end customised solutions, it says.

Gradiant’s work with SLB integrates Gradiant’s technologies to concentrate lithium solution with SLB’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) and production technology process – allowing reduced time-to-market and environmental footprint for lithium extraction. The solution enhances the impact of the sustainable lithium extraction process by enabling high levels of lithium concentration in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods while reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption and capital costs compared with thermal-based methods, the company says.

Back in October, Gradiant and Schlumberger entered into a partnership to introduce a key sustainable technology into the production process for battery-grade lithium compounds.

For Rio Tinto, Gradiant will deliver a new facility in Western Australia to replace ageing facilities by employing the company’s proprietary RO Infinity membrane technologies and SmartOps Digital AI into existing mining operations. Gradiant has introduced two chemical-free technologies into operations to minimise chemical consumption and waste discharge, it said.

Lastly, Gradiant’s RO Infinity and SmartOps technologies will concentrate complex wastewater from nickel and cobalt production at a new facility in Western Australia for a global mining company, resulting in up to 75% cost savings with lower carbon and water footprints compared with conventional technologies, it says.

Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant, said: “Mining is a uniquely complex industrial sector with challenges of remote locations, large volumes of waste, wide fluctuations in water quality and the high-value end-product that demands relentless design and operations efficiencies. The real opportunity for water technology in the mining industry is resource recovery in wastewater coupled with machine learning AI. We are excited to work with the world’s leading mining operators to enter a new era of sustainable resource recovery. This is made possible by Gradiant’s deep understanding of the complex chemistry that underlies the production processes, which is then operationalised by machine learning digital technology.”

Rio Tinto to expand scandium output with Platina project acquisition in Australia

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining mergers and acquisitions, , , ,

Rio Tinto has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Platina scandium project, a high-grade scandium resource in New South Wales, from Platina Resources Limited for $14 million.

The project, near Condobolin in central New South Wales, comprises a long life, high-grade scalable resource that could produce up to 40 t/y of scandium oxide, for an estimated period of 30 years, the company says.

Rio Tinto currently produces scandium oxide from titanium dioxide production waste streams at Sorel-Tracy in Quebec, Canada. Once operational, the Platina scandium project would enable Rio Tinto to more than double its annual scandium production.

Rio says this acquisition aligns with its strategic goal to grow in materials essential for the low-carbon transition.

Scandium is a rare, versatile and useful mineral for the green economy and energy transition. It is considered a critical mineral by the USA, Canada, Australia and many other countries.

Scandium oxide, meanwhile, is also used to improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells used as a green power source for buildings, medical facilities and data processing centres, as well as in niche products such as lasers and lighting.

Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive, Sinead Kaufman, said: “This acquisition supports our commitment to critical minerals and finding better ways to provide materials the world needs.

“It will enable us to further develop and grow with the global scandium market, complementing our existing scandium production in Quebec, where we have the expertise, technology and capacity to produce pure, highly reliable scandium through sustainable methods.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023.

Foraco to help Rio Tinto manage groundwater activities in the Pilbara

Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Water management, , , , , , ,

Foraco International SA, a global provider of mineral and water drilling services, says it has been awarded a major contract with Rio Tinto Iron Ore.

This contract is for water-related drilling services in the Pilbara region, involving both monitoring wells, dewatering wells and vibrating wire piezometers digital networks installation, mostly with flooded reverse circulation rigs. The length of the contract is two years, with an option for a further three years. It will see a total of four rigs deployed and a VWP grout unit, including Foraco’s new proprietary generation of BF800, the NGBF. This 60 t pull, remotely-operated rig brings Foraco’s diameter drilling capacity to the next step in term of intrinsic safety and capabilities, according to the company.

The contract has a total value of A$111 million ($74 million), including options.

Daniel Simoncini, CEO of Foraco, said: “Our remarkable partnership with Rio Tinto Iron Ore in the Pilbara has gone one step further with this additional contract on top of our long-term exploration contract and we’re very excited to extend our collaboration with Rio Tinto to help them to manage their mines’ groundwater, which is now seen as a critical and vital natural resource to be preserved and well managed.

“We are very proud that Rio Tinto management and their field operators appreciate Foraco technical expertise, safe execution and reliable services. This is a great reward for all our employees, field crews and support teams in Australia.”

Rio Tinto breaks new ground with site-by-site water use disclosure data

Environmental, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , ,

Rio Tinto says it has become the first major mining company to publish site-by-site water usage data across its global network of managed sites in 35 countries, through an interactive map on its website.

The company made the announcement on World Water Day 2023.

For each managed site included, the database details permitted surface water allocation volumes, the site’s annual allocation usage and the associated catchment runoff from average annual rainfall estimate. The database includes five-year historic comparative data and will be updated annually, according to the company.

In 2019, Rio Tinto made a commitment to drive good water stewardship and improve disclosure to stakeholders, by publishing site-by-site surface water usage data for all managed sites by the end of 2023.

This commitment is in line with the water reporting guidelines of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Water Stewardship Position Statement, which sets out ICMM members’ approach to water stewardship. It includes commitments requiring members to apply strong and transparent water governance, manage water at operations effectively and collaborate to achieve responsible and sustainable water use.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Jakob Stausholm, said: “Water is an essential resource, critical to sustaining biodiversity, people and economic prosperity. It is also a resource we share with the communities and nature surrounding our operations, so it is essential that we carefully manage our use and hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders.

“This interactive database brings a new level of transparency and will enable us to engage more deeply with our stakeholders, seek their feedback on our disclosure and continue to focus our efforts on becoming better water stewards for today and future generations.”

Sharing water with communities and nature surrounding operations means balancing operational needs with those of the local communities and ecosystems, Rio says. The company aims to avoid permanent impacts on water resources by carefully managing the quality and quantity of the water used and returned to the environment.

“We will look to incorporate future water and broader environmental disclosures within this platform,” it said.

Rio Tinto boosts Australian supplier spend to more than A$15 billion

Mining industry recognition, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

Rio Tinto increased its spend with Australian suppliers to more than A$15.3 billion ($10.3 billion) in 2022, as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to support communities where it operates, it says.

This was an increase of almost 9% on the previous year and was spent with more than 6,200 businesses, including Australia-owned and operated businesses and locally owned and managed branches of global companies. The spend helped support tens of thousands of Australian jobs and delivered a significant economic contribution to communities across the country.

As part of this spend, more than A$565 million was spent with Indigenous businesses across Australia – an increase of 40% on the year before, Rio said.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker, said: “Supporting local businesses in the communities where we operate is a key priority for Rio Tinto. We strive to employ local people, buy local products and engage local services – especially from Indigenous, small and regional businesses.

“We are working hard to improve our approach to Indigenous business development and engagement in Australia, and while there is still more work to do, last year we significantly increased our spend with Indigenous suppliers.

“We couldn’t do what we do without our local supplier partners and having good relationships with them helps us find better ways to provide the materials the world needs and innovate to decarbonise our operations.”

Rio Tinto and Mongolian Government ‘open’ Oyu Tolgoi Underground mine

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The Prime Minister of Mongolia, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, today joined Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Jakob Stausholm, 1.3 km underground to celebrate the commencement of underground production from the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in the Gobi Desert.

This was followed by a ceremony with Oyu Tolgoi employees and leaders, Government of Mongolia representatives, Oyu Tolgoi Board members and local suppliers to mark this milestone towards Oyu Tolgoi ramping up to become one of the world’s leading copper suppliers.

Since the agreement between the Government of Mongolia and Rio Tinto in January 2022 to reset the relationship and move the Oyu Tolgoi underground project forward, 30 drawbells have been blasted and copper is now being produced from the underground mine. Oyu Tolgoi is expected to become the fourth-largest copper mine in the world by 2030, operating in the first quartile of the copper equivalent cost curve, Rio Tinto says. Ore is currently being processed from Panel Zero in Hugo North Lift 1 and production will ramp up over the coming years.

A partnership between Rio Tinto and Mongolia, the Oyu Tolgoi open pit and concentrator have been succesfully operating for over a decade. The total workforce of Oyu Tolgoi is currently around 20,000 people, of which 97% are Mongolian. Oyu Tolgoi works with more than 500 national suppliers and has spent around $15 billion in Mongolia since 2010, including $4 billion of taxes, fees and other payments to the state budget, according to the mining company.

Developing the underground mine is an investment of over $7 billion, unlocking the most valuable part of the copper resource for the benefit of all stakeholders. Oyu Tolgoi is expected to produce around 500,000 t/y of copper on average from 2028 to 2036 from the open pit and underground, enough to produce around 6 million electric vehicles annually, and an average of around 290,000 t over the reserve life of around 30 years.

Oyun-Erdene said: “I am proud to celebrate this major milestone with our partner Rio Tinto as we look towards Mongolia becoming one of the world’s key copper producers. The start of underground production at Oyu Tolgoi demonstrates our ability to work together with investors in a sustainable manner and become a trusted partner. The next phase of the partnership will enable the continued successful delivery of Mongolia’s ‘New Recovery Policy’ and Vision 2050 economic diversification strategy. Mongolia stands ready to work actively and mutually beneficially with global investors and partners.”

Stausholm said: “We would like to thank the Government of Mongolia for their commitment as our partner in achieving this remarkable milestone. We are starting underground production 1.3 km beneath the remote Gobi desert from an orebody that will be critical for global copper production and Mongolia’s ongoing economic development. The copper produced in this truly world class, high technology mine will help deliver the electrification needed for a net zero future and grow Rio Tinto’s copper business.”

Rio Tinto now has a 66% interest in Oyu Tolgoi LLC, the mine operating company, following its successful completion of the acquisition of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd; with the Government of Mongolia retaining 34%.

CIM and Rio Tinto strengthen Canadian technical capability ties with new partnership

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The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) has announced a new three-year partnership with Rio Tinto, aiming to strengthen technical capabilities and foster a robust, connected and engaged community of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals and materials industries.

CIM says it has a long history of supporting the professional development of its members and partners, with a focus on creating, curating and delivering relevant, leading-edge knowledge. Through this partnership, CIM and Rio Tinto will work together to expand awareness of the essential contribution mining makes to society and achieve organisational and operational excellence.

Rio Tinto recognises CIM’s important role in facilitating thought leadership and serving as an incubator for innovation and advancement in ESG practices and clean technologies that are instrumental in increasing energy efficiency, CIM says. In fact, the 2023 CIM Convention and Expo – for which Rio Tinto is an Official Convention Sponsor – will act as a platform for discussions on how to build trust and efficient processes to decarbonise the industry, it added.

“We are thrilled to partner with CIM for the next three years,” Nigel Steward, Rio Tinto Chief Scientist, said. “Rio Tinto benefits from one of the largest technology and R&D ecosystems in the industry, with more than 500 employees dedicated to R&D and a strong network of partners. We know that professional associations can play a critical role in supporting our objective of finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs. CIM’s reputation for fostering a connected and engaged community aligns well with our own values of care, courage and curiosity, and we look forward to working together to achieve our common goals.”

This partnership between CIM and Rio Tinto is a mutually beneficial opportunity that will enhance the technical capabilities of Rio Tinto’s professionals while providing opportunities for professional development and networking, according to CIM. CIM members will have access to the expertise and resources of a leading global mining company, and Rio Tinto will benefit from CIM’s leadership in professional and industry development. Together, CIM and Rio Tinto will work towards the common goal of supporting the growth and success of the mining industry in Canada.

CIM CEO, Angela Hamlyn, added: “We are excited to partner with Rio Tinto, a global leader in the mining industry. This partnership will allow us to expand our reach and impact, and provide valuable opportunities for our members to learn from and collaborate with our corporate partners. Together, we will work to support the professional development and success of our members and the continued growth
of the mining industry in Canada.”

The partnership began in January 2023 and will run for three years.

Rio Tinto has several mining and metal operations in Canada, including stakes in the Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories (pictured), the Iron Ore Company of Canada and industrial minerals operations in Quebec.