Rio Tinto backs bio pellets for Gladstone refineries
Rio Tinto has signed a five-year agreement to source locally produced bio pellets for its Gladstone alumina refineries, potentially reducing reported Scope 1 emissions by up to 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.
The agreement with Australian bioenergy company SuperChar Limited (SCL) will support further assessments of bio pellets as a partial replacement for coal in refinery boilers, with deliveries targeted to begin in 2028.
It follows operational trials and a feasibility study conducted by Rio Tinto, which demonstrated that blends containing bio pellets could replace up to 30 per cent of the coal used to generate steam under trial conditions.
Rio Tinto will now undertake operational demonstrations and assess blends containing between five and 50 per cent bio pellets across its Gladstone operations.
“Reducing our alumina refineries’ reliance on fossil fuel will require a mix of technologies, innovation and partnerships, and bio pellets are one of the practical options we are exploring as part of that,” Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations managing director Armando Torres said.
“The recent trials and feasibility study have given us valuable insights, and this agreement allows us to take the next step in understanding how bio-pellets could work in practice and be scaled for use at our Gladstone operations.”
Initial use is expected to begin at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery before volumes are increased at Queensland Alumina Limited, subject to regulatory approvals and operational readiness.
SCL plans to establish a production facility in the Gladstone region with an initial capacity of 35,000 tonnes of bio pellets per year. Supply could be increased over time if the project proves successful.
The facility will use locally grown bana grass as its feedstock, suited to Central Queensland’s conditions; the high-yielding perennial crop can be planted and harvested using conventional sugar cane equipment and remain productive for more than 15 years.
SCL is targeting a progressive roll-out of bana grass planting from late 2026 ahead of bio pellet production commencing in 2028.
Torres said the project could extend its benefits beyond Rio Tinto’s efforts to decarbonise alumina refining.
“The project also has the potential to support new industries and supply chains in Central Queensland, connecting agriculture and industry in new ways,” he said.
SCL executive chairman Michael Palmer said the agreement demonstrated the potential for regeneratively grown biomass to provide an alternative industrial fuel while creating opportunities for regional communities.
The production facility and use of bio pellets at Rio Tinto’s refineries remain subject to regulatory approvals.