Rio Tinto has successfully completed decarbonization of Pilbara iron ore operations using Neste MY Renewable Diesel. This feat demonstrates the potential of biofuels to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in heavy industry. The four-week trial that ended on February 26, conducted in partnership with Neste and Viva Energy, marks the first time Rio Tinto has integrated renewable diesel into its Australian operations.

The trial, which ran through January and February 2025, involved the deployment of 8,500 tons (10 million liters) of renewable diesel, produced from used cooking oil by Neste. This fuel was shipped from Singapore to Rio Tinto’s Parker Point fuel terminal in Dampier by Viva Energy, where it was blended with fossil diesel to create a 20% renewable diesel mix. The blended fuel was then distributed across Rio Tinto’s extensive Pilbara network, powering rail locomotives, marine vessels, blasting operations, haul trucks, surface mining equipment, and light vehicles.

The results of the trial are compelling. Rio Tinto achieved a reduction of approximately 27,000 tonnes of direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1), equivalent to the annual tailpipe emissions of 6,300 cars. This significant reduction underscores the potential of renewable diesel as a viable and immediate solution for lowering the carbon footprint of heavy industrial operations.

Richard Cohen, Rio Tinto’s Managing Director Rail, Port and Core Services, emphasized the importance of this trial in the company’s decarbonization strategy. “Diesel makes up about 70% of the total carbon emissions from our Pilbara iron ore operations. While electrification is the ultimate longer-term solution for repowering the majority of our fleet, we’re also exploring biofuels as a complementary and nearer-term solution,” Cohen stated.

The trial provided crucial operational data, insights into the bulk renewable diesel supply chain, importation, and blending processes, which will be essential for future scaling. Ee Pin Lee, Neste’s Head of Commercial APAC Renewable Products, highlighted the readiness of their renewable diesel solution. “Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a readily available solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Building on the successful partnership in the US, the agreement in Australia reinforces our commitment to support our customers and demonstrates the capabilities of renewable diesel across a wide range of applications. This milestone signifies the continuous collaboration with Rio Tinto and we look forward to further expanding our cooperation,” Lee said.

This trial builds on Rio Tinto’s existing experience with renewable diesel in its US operations, where 11% of its global fossil diesel consumption has already been replaced with renewable alternatives at its Boron and Kennecott operations.