Anglo-Australian multinational mining company RioTinto's consolidated copper production increased 5% year over year for the third quarter of this year to approximately 169,000 tonnes, according to the company's production data released Tuesday.
The company's aluminum production also recorded a 9% increase over the same period to reach 828,000 tonnes compared to 759,000 tonnes last year.
Rio Tinto produced 13.9 million tonnes of bauxite, a material used in the manufacturing of aluminum metal, up 2% over the previous year's July–September total of 13.7 million tonnes.
The company announced its commitment to the environment by detailing its sustainability operations in the report.
On July 12, the company announced its partnership with Japanese trading and business investment company Sumitomo Corporation to build a first-of-a-kind hydrogen pilot plant at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Australia.
The move comes as part of a $70.6 million program aimed at lowering carbon emissions from the alumina refining process.
The company plans to produce the equivalent of about 6,000 tonnes of alumina per year while reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the Yarwun plant by about 3,000 tonnes per year.
Meanwhile, on Aug. 9, the company announced the signing of a multi-year supply agreement with Swedish green steel producing company H2 Green Steel.
The deal aims at the high-grade direct reduction of iron ore pellets from the Iron Ore Company in Canada.
By Duygu Alhan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr