Rio Tinto launches biofuel crop farming trial for renewable diesel production in Australia

In Australia, Rio Tinto said it will develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia as part of a new biofuels pilot. 

The project will explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel, the firm said.

The pilot aims to determine if Pongamia seed oil can contribute to Rio Tinto’s renewable diesel needs while potentially contributing to the growth of a new biofuel sector in Australia, the company said. Rio Tinto is in the final stages of acquiring approximately 3,000 hectares of cleared land near Townsville in north Queensland to establish farms to study growth conditions and measure seed oil yields.

Rio Tinto has partnered with Midway Limited, to oversee the planting and management of the Pongamia seed farms. Midway Limited will engage with nurseries, agricultural experts and research organizations throughout the pilot.

Rio Tinto is also investigating how biofuels could be used in scenarios where electrification may face practical limitations.

Rio Tinto Chief Decarbonisation Officer Jonathon McCarthy said: “Diesel accounts for around 10% of our emissions footprint in Australia. While we continue to pursue electrification as the long-term solution for displacing the majority of our diesel use, the Pongamia seed pilot is an important parallel pathway that could reduce our reliance on diesel in the mid-term. It also presents a compelling option for other applications that are challenging to electrify, including blasting and non-haul equipment.”

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