Rio Tinto completes RD transition at Kennecott copper mine in Utah

In Utah, Rio Tinto has completed the transition from conventional to renewable diesel for all heavy mining equipment at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, giving the mine one of the lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the United States.

Kennecott’s fleet of 97 haul trucks and heavy machinery equipment at the mine, concentrator, smelter, refinery and tailings are now all fueled by renewable diesel¹ sourced in the United States. This is expected to reduce the mine’s Scope 1 emissions by 450,000 tons, equal to eliminating the annual emissions of 107,000 cars. In addition, the switch to renewable diesel reduces PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) emissions at the tailpipes of our haul truck fleet by 40%, a reduction equivalent to approximately 2.3 billion miles of light vehicle travel annually.

Kennecott has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the United States, thanks to recent initiatives such as the closure of a coal-fired power plant, installation of a 5-megawatt solar farm, deployment of battery electric vehicles underground, and the transition to renewable diesel. The operation’s overall carbon footprint has now been reduced by more than 80% from 2018 levels.