Rio Tinto may eventually process critical minerals, CEO says
Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies, wants to start processing minerals in North America that are considered key to US national security.
The company is currently figuring out ways to extract up to ten so-called critical minerals from copper waste at its mining facility in Utah, CEO Jakob Stausholm said in a phone interview. The minerals are used in everything from missiles to wind turbines, yet China is the world’s dominant processor of most of the materials seen as strategically important to US national defence.
Stausholm said that in talks with the White House, the company shares a “very common agenda” with the Biden administration’s aim to secure domestic manufacturing capabilities.
“There are a lot of byproducts coming from copper production,” Stausholm said. “It’s an area that’s had very little focus in the US and if we put some focus on it, I do see some opportunities.”
Stausholm’s comments come amid a trip through the US that includes visits to Rio’s copper assets in Utah and Arizona. The executive said he sat down with tribes in Arizona about its Resolution copper mine, which is currently being held up from development amid increased scrutiny from indigenous groups.
Asked whether he made any progress with the Native American tribes, Stausholm said he was not engaging in “deal making” with Native American tribes, instead focusing on talks and diplomacy.
The comments also come after Rio suspended sales of copper from its Kennecott smelter after the plant shut down last week following a release of molten metal. Stausholm said the company is still assessing the damage and has no timeline for when they’ll be able to restart sales.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
ESAB South Arica, the leading supplier of high-end welding and cutting products to the Southern African industrial market is based in...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Established in 1983, the ASTPM is an industry association and representative body of the welded carbon steel tube and pipe manufacturers of South...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
