Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ has been successfully trialed in Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to reduce emissions. The trial, conducted in partnership with global renewable diesel leader Neste and Australian fuel supplier Viva Energy, was carried out across Rio Tinto’s network of Western Australian ports, railways, and mines, according to the press release.
This marks the first biofuel trial of its kind for Rio Tinto in Australia, providing valuable insights into how renewable diesel could be integrated into its operations. For the trial, Neste provided 8,500 tons (10 million liters) of renewable diesel made from used cooking oil. The fuel was transported from Singapore to Rio Tinto’s Parker Point fuel terminal in Dampier by Viva Energy, where it was blended with fossil diesel to create a mix containing approximately 20% renewable diesel. This blend was then distributed throughout Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations for use in rail, marine, blasting, haul trucks, surface mining equipment, and light vehicles.
The four-week trial, conducted from January to February 2025, has helped Rio Tinto assess how renewable diesel can be scaled across its Australian operations in the future. The trial provided crucial information on the renewable diesel supply chain, including importation, blending processes, and its impact on operations. It also helped reduce Rio Tinto’s Scope 1 emissions by around 27,000 tonnes of direct greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the annual tailpipe emissions of approximately 6,300 cars.
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“Diesel accounts for roughly 70% of the total carbon emissions from our Pilbara iron ore operations,” said Richard Cohen, Rio Tinto’s Managing Director of Rail, Port, and Core Services. “While electrification is our long-term goal for fleet repowering, we are also exploring biofuels as a more immediate solution. This trial with Neste and Viva Energy has provided us with valuable insights into how renewable diesel can bridge the gap to widespread electrification and serve as a viable option where electrification may not be feasible.”
Neste’s Head of Commercial APAC Renewable Products, Ee Pin Lee, expressed enthusiasm about the successful collaboration. “Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a proven solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This agreement in Australia builds on our successful partnership in the US and demonstrates the versatility of renewable diesel across a variety of applications,” she said. “We look forward to further expanding our partnership with Rio Tinto.”
Viva Energy’s Chief Strategy Officer, Lachlan Pfeiffer, highlighted the significance of renewable diesel in the energy transition. “Drop-in biofuels like renewable diesel are essential for reducing emissions without requiring the replacement of equipment and infrastructure,” he said. “This trial illustrates the important role renewable diesel will play in reducing the carbon footprint of heavy industry in Australia. We’re proud to work with Rio Tinto and other partners to help identify the right low-carbon solutions.”
Rio Tinto is continuing its commitment to biofuels as part of its broader efforts to meet its Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target of 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This trial follows successful biofuel transitions at Rio Tinto’s Boron and Kennecott operations in the US, where renewable diesel has replaced 11% of its global fossil diesel consumption.
