Rio Tinto has completed its first trial of renewable diesel in its Pilbara iron ore operations, testing the fuel across its ports, railways, and mines in Western Australia.
The four-week trial, conducted in partnership with global renewable diesel producer Neste and Australian fuel supplier Viva Energy, used 10 million litres of renewable diesel derived from used cooking oil. The fuel was shipped from Singapore to Rio Tinto’s Parker Point fuel terminal in Dampier, where it was blended with fossil diesel to create a 20 per cent renewable diesel mix before being distributed for use in rail, marine, blasting, haul trucks, mining equipment, and light vehicles.
Richard Cohen, Managing Director Rail, Port and Core Services at Rio Tinto, said the trial provided valuable insights into the potential role of renewable diesel in the company’s emissions reduction strategy.
“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.”
The trial, conducted in January and February of 2025, reduced Rio Tinto’s Scope 1 emissions by approximately 27,000 tonnes, equivalent to the annual tailpipe emissions from 6,300 cars. It also provided insights into the bulk renewable diesel supply chain, importation, and blending processes.
Ee Pin Lee, Head of Commercial APAC Renewable Products at Neste, said the trial reinforced the company’s commitment to supporting its customers in reducing emissions.
“Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a readily available solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This milestone signifies the continuous collaboration with Rio Tinto, and we look forward to further expanding our cooperation.”
Lachlan Pfeiffer, Chief Strategy Officer at Viva Energy, highlighted the role of renewable diesel in Australia’s energy transition.
“Drop-in biofuels like renewable diesel are important tools in the energy transition – they help 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.”
Rio Tinto is working towards reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. The company has already transitioned to renewable diesel at its Boron and Kennecott operations in the United States, replacing 11 per cent of its global fossil diesel consumption. It is also developing a Pongamia seed farm in North Queensland as part of a biofuels pilot to support the growth of the Australian biofuels industry.
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