Rio Tinto tests biomass as coal alternative for lower steel emissions

Mining company 'encouraged' by results of trials with agricultural byproducts

Rio Tinto's new method uses agricultural byproducts like wheat straw instead of coking coal, reducing net carbon emissions tied to steelmaking. © Reuters

FUMI MATSUMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

October 15, 2021 00:00 JST

SYDNEY -- Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto is developing a new technology to replace coking coal with farm waste in steelmaking, as part of a growing push within the sector to reduce carbon emissions.

Depending on the results of current and future tests, the company sees a potential to make the technology available on a commercial scale in as early as 10 years.