Neste MY Renewable Diesel has officially been used at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations. The trial took place in Western Australia.
The partnership involved Neste, a leading renewable diesel producer, and Australian fuel supplier Viva Energy. They aimed to explore biofuel integration in Rio Tinto’s operations.
Neste provided 8,500 tons (10 million liters) of renewable diesel made from used cooking oil. Viva Energy shipped the fuel from Singapore to Dampier, Australia.
At the Parker Point fuel terminal, the renewable diesel was blended with fossil diesel. The final mix contained about 20% renewable diesel for various operations.
The four-week trial, conducted in January and February 2025, helped assess renewable diesel’s potential for broader use in Pilbara operations. It reduced emissions by approximately 27,000 tons.
“Diesel is responsible for about 70% of carbon emissions in our Pilbara operations,” said Richard Cohen, Rio Tinto’s Managing Director of Rail, Port and Core Services.
“While electrification is our long-term goal, biofuels can complement our efforts in the near term. The trial showed renewable diesel’s bridging potential.”
Ee Pin Lee, Head of Commercial APAC Renewable Products at Neste, emphasized the significance of the project. “This trial reinforces our commitment to helping customers cut emissions.”
Rio Tinto is focused on exploring biofuels as part of its strategy. The company aims to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
This trial builds on success at Rio Tinto’s Boron and Kennecott operations in the U.S., where 11% of fossil diesel has been replaced with renewable diesel.
