【SMM Aluminum Flash News】Rio Tinto Partners with SuperChar to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use at Gladstone Alumina Refinery

Published: Jul 28, 2026 17:07

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Rio Tinto has signed a cooperation agreement with Australian bioenergy company SuperChar (SCL) to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels at its Gladstone alumina refinery. The five-year agreement stipulates that SCL will supply locally produced bio-pellet fuel, with formal supply planned to begin in 2028. This collaboration follows multiple rounds of industrial trials and feasibility studies by Rio Tinto and represents the next phase in the company's evaluation of bio-pellet fuel application. Rio Tinto is exploring various feasible pathways to reduce fossil fuel consumption in alumina smelting, with bio-pellet fuel being a key option. Previous trials tested various bio-pellet and coal blending ratios, showing that under test conditions, bio-pellets could replace up to 30% of the coal in the refinery's boilers. According to the agreement, Rio Tinto will conduct multiple industrial trials and performance evaluations, using bio-pellets and coal in blends ranging from 5% to 50% in the Gladstone alumina refinery's boilers.

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