Rio Tinto has used biofuel in its Pilbara iron ore operations for the first time, completing a successful renewable diesel trial across its network of Western Australian railways, ports and mines.
The trial, the first of its kind for Rio Tinto in Australia, was conducted in partnership with leading global renewable diesel producer Neste and Australian fuel supplier Viva Energy.
Rio Tinto said it has provided the company with a greater understanding of how renewable diesel could be integrated across its Pilbara operations.
Neste allocated 10 million litres of renewable diesel from used cooking oil for the four-week trial, which took place across January and February 2025.
The fuel was shipped from Singapore to Rio Tinto’s Parker Point fuel terminal in Dampier by Viva Energy and blended portside with fossil diesel to create a mix with about 20 per cent renewable diesel.
It was then distributed across Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations for use in rail, marine, blasting, haul trucks, surface mining equipment and light vehicles.
The trial provided an understanding of how renewable diesel use could be scaled up across Rio Tinto’s Australian operations in the future, giving key insights into the bulk renewable diesel supply chain, importation and blending processes.
It also reduced Rio Tinto’s Scope 1 emissions by about 27,000 tonnes of direct greenhouse gas emissions, which is as much as the tailpipe emissions from 6,300 cars for a year.
Rio Tinto Managing Director Rail, Port and Core Services Richard Cohen said: “Diesel makes up about 70 per cent 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.
“Through this trial with Neste and Viva Energy, we’ve gained valuable insights into how renewable diesel can help bridge the gap to widespread electrification as well as for circumstances where electrification may not be suitable.”
Neste Head of Commercial APAC Renewable Products Ee Pin Lee said: “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.”
Viva Energy Chief Strategy Officer Lachlan Pfeiffer said drop-in biofuels like renewable diesel are important tools in the energy transition, helping companies reduce emissions without the cost of replacing equipment and infrastructure.
“This trial effectively demonstrated the critical role renewable diesel is going to play in reducing the carbon footprint of Australia’s heavy industry,” he said.
“Viva Energy is working alongside key partners like Rio Tinto to help them to identify the right low-carbon solution to meet their specific business needs.”
Rio Tinto is actively exploring the potential of biofuels as part of its ongoing efforts to achieve its Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction targets of 50 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
This trial builds on the successful transition at the company’s Boron and Kennecott operations in the US, where 11 per cent of its total global fossil diesel consumption has been replaced with renewable diesel.
Rio Tinto is also developing a Pongamia seed farm in North Queensland as part of a biofuels pilot to contribute to the growth of the Australian biofuels industry.
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