Rio Tinto to build new tellurium plant
(Posted on 11/03/21)
Rio Tinto will begin construction on a new plant that will recover tellurium, a critical mineral used in solar panels, from copper refining at its Kennecott mine near Salt Lake City, Utah. The company is investing $2.9 million to set up the plant, which will recover tellurium as a byproduct of copper smelting, extracting a valuable mineral from waste streams. The plant will have a capacity to produce approximately 20 tonnes of tellurium per year. Rio Tinto expects to begin production of tellurium in the fourth quarter of 2021, creating a new North American supply chain for this critical mineral.
Tellurium is an essential component of cadmium telluride, a semiconductor used to manufacture thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Thin films made of this compound can efficiently convert sunlight into electricity. Tellurium can also be used as an additive to steel and copper to improve machinability, making these metals easier to cut. It can also be added to lead to increase resistance to sulfuric acid, vibration and fatigue.
Rio Tinto Kennecott managing director Gaby Poirier said “The minerals and metals we produce are essential to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Adding tellurium to our product portfolio provides customers in North America with a secure and reliable source of tellurium produced at the highest environmental and labour standards with renewable energy. Rio Tinto is committed to using innovation to reduce waste in our production process and extract as much value as possible from the material that we mine and process.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said “With abundant natural resources, Utah is ideally positioned to help supply the critical minerals essential to maintain American manufacturing competitiveness. Rio Tinto’s smelter at Kennecott is one of only two that is capable of producing copper and other critical minerals. The new tellurium plant is another valuable contribution to critical mineral independence and energy security in the U.S.”
Along with producing almost 20 per cent of U.S. copper, Kennecott’s smelting process also recovers gold, silver, lead carbonate, platinum, palladium and selenium, while molybdenum is recovered from the Copperton concentrator. In total, nine products are currently recovered from the ore extracted at Kennecott.
Latest News
Increased copper and iron ore production for BHP
(Posted on 19/10/24)BHP have released their operational review for the quarter ended 30 September 2024.BHP Chief Executive... Read more
Safety a priority as Rio Tinto releases Q3 production results
(Posted on 18/10/24)Rio Tinto is continuing to prioritise learning from safety incidents to improve the effectiveness of... Read more
IFA and Proba launch global programme for GHG emissions reduction
(Posted on 14/10/24)The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) is partnering with supply chain decarbonization startup... Read more
Export Exchange 2024 wraps up as trade teams head across the USA
(Posted on 14/10/24)Export Exchange 2024, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels... Read more
MPA welcomes UK Government’s commitment to fund CCUS
(Posted on 08/10/24)The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the Government’s pledge to fund the launch... Read more
Glencore’s Stephen Rowland elected Chair of ICA’s Board
(Posted on 08/10/24)The Board of Directors of the International Copper Association (ICA) has elected Stephen Rowland, Glencore... Read more
NGFA highlights ‘trifecta of transportation trouble’ for US agriculture
(Posted on 01/10/24)Potential disruptions to the nation’s shipping infrastructure could have a devastating effect... Read more
ADM adds non-GM capabilities in Hungary
(Posted on 01/10/24)ADM has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Vandamme Hungaria Kft and its related... Read more
Richard Holtum to become Trafigura CEO from 1 January 2025
(Posted on 25/09/24)Trafigura Group Pte Ltd has announced that Richard Holtum will become Chief Executive Officer (CEO)... Read more
Financial community visit Rio Tinto North American operations
(Posted on 25/09/24)Rio Tinto is hosting a site visit for the financial community this week to its Aluminium and Iron &... Read more
