Rio Tinto is investing $143 million to develop a BioIron Research and Development Facility in Western Australia, aimed at advancing its innovative low-carbon ironmaking process. The facility, located in the Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area, will house a pilot plant ten times larger than its German predecessor, capable of producing one tonne of direct reduced iron per hour.The BioIron process, which uses raw biomass and microwave energy instead of coal, has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional blast furnace methods. This investment marks a significant step in Rio Tinto's efforts to decarbonize the global steel value chain, which accounts for 8% of world carbon emissions and 69% of Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions in 2023.The...Show More

Rio Tinto is investing $143 million to develop a BioIron Research and Development Facility in Western Australia, aimed at advancing its innovative low-carbon ironmaking process. The facility, located in the Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area, will house a pilot plant ten times larger than its German predecessor, capable of producing one tonne of direct reduced iron per hour.The BioIron process, which uses raw biomass and microwave energy instead of coal, has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional blast furnace methods. This investment marks a significant step in Rio Tinto's efforts to decarbonize the global steel value chain, which accounts for 8% of world carbon emissions and 69% of Rio Tinto's Scope 3 emissions in 2023.The facility is expected to create up to 60 construction jobs and employ around 30 full-time staff upon completion. Commissioning is anticipated in 2026, with the project designed to provide crucial data for further scaling of the technology. This initiative aligns with Western Australia's ambition to lead in low-emission steelmaking and diversify its economy.