Rio Tinto signs five-year offtake agreement with SuperChar for bio‑pellet supply
Type: Supply Agreement · Technology: Biomass · Country: Australia · Announced: 2026-07-23
Rio Tinto and SuperChar signed a five‑year offtake agreement for locally produced bio‑pellets to replace coal at Rio Tinto's alumina refineries in Gladstone, Australia. The agreement allows Rio Tinto to run operational demonstrations using bio‑pellet blends ranging from 5% to 50% in its Yarwun and Queensland Alumina facilities, with deliveries slated to start in 2028. SuperChar will build a production plant in the Gladstone region capable of producing 35,000 tonnes of bio‑pellets per year, potentially cutting Rio Tinto's Scope 1 emissions by up to 90,000 tCO₂e annually. The deal supports Rio Tinto's target to halve its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and achieve net‑zero by 2050, aligning with its broader energy‑transition strategy. No financial terms were disclosed, and the parties did not name any advisors or financiers.
Counterparties
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