Rio Tinto, Hydro partner on carbon capture tech for aluminium smelters

LONDON, January 30, 2025 – Rio Tinto will partner with Norway’s Hydro on identifying carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelters, the London-headquartered mining player announced on Thursday.

The agreement involves the sharing of certain information, results and costs covering specific R&D activities from lab tests with external suppliers to larger, on-site pilots, with the aim of creating improved offerings of commercially viable carbon capture technologies from relevant suppliers, the company said.

The efforts will entail a joint investment of around USD 45 million over five years.

Most of the work will take place at Rio Tinto’s facilities in Europe and Hydro’s facilities in Norway.

Rio Tinto and Hydro have for several years separately been exploring carbon capture technologies relevant to aluminium smelting.

The companies will aim to hasten the development of technology for capturing carbon from aluminium smelter flue gas, including adapting direct air capture technologies for higher concentrations or point source technologies for lower concentrations.

In both cases, the “current technology readiness level is low,” Rio Tinto said.

Rio Tinto, produces iron ore, copper, aluminium from its operations in 35 countries. It is known as the world’s largest producer of iron ore.

“Rio Tinto is committed to reaching net zero emissions from our operations by 2050, and we know that achieving our climate objectives will require a portfolio of solutions,” CEO Jakob Stausholm said.

“By working in partnership with Hydro to assess certain carbon capture technologies for aluminium smelters, we are finding better ways to leverage our complementary networks and R&D capabilities to address the climate change challenge.”

Hydro is an Oslo-based aluminium and renewable energy company that ranks among the largest aluminium players worldwide.

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