Latest news with #KellieParker
Sky News AU
15-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Mining giant Rio Tinto urges Albanese government to reimpose carbon tax and boost green energy subsidies to meet renewables targets
Mining giant Rio Tinto has used it's submission to the Productivity Commission ahead of the Albanese government's economic roundtable to lobby for the re-imposition of a carbon pricing scheme and bolstered green energy subsidies. Letters to the Productivity Commission's five pillars review, which will compile the agenda of the Albanese government's reform roundtable are beginning to flood in from a range of business groups and bodies. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry used its submission to rail against the implementation of a 2035 emission reduction target larger than 65 per cent, stating the move would impede economic growth and stymie manufacturing. Meanwhile, the Australian Council of Trade Unions submission to the PC called on the government to consider imposing a Julia-Gillard style, economy wide carbon tax and said the policy was the best measure the government could take to ensure Australia was meeting its international climate obligations. The nation's second largest mining company joined the ACTU in advocating for the government to roll out a carbon tax, a policy which has been shelved for more than a decade since the fall of the Gillard government in 2013. Rio Tinto told the five pillars review that a new carbon pricing scheme was the only way the government could achieve its ambitious goal to have 82 per cent of Australia's electricity grid powered by renewables by 2030. 'Market-based price on carbon is the most effective way to incentivise the private sector to make low-carbon investments and drive down emissions,' Rio Tinto's submission read. The multinational company went a step further than the ACTU and outlined that a carbon tax alone was not enough to lower emissions in line with federal deadlines, arguing for the government to expand subsides to renewable energy producers. The consortium said greater federal funding packages were needed if the government wanted to bring down emissions in heavy industry while remaining 'commercially competitive in a global market.' Rio Tinto is one of the most significant inheritors of the Albanese governments Future Made in Australia fund that provides up to $1.5 billion in grant funding to support pre-commercial innovation, demonstration and deployment of renewable energy and low emission technologies. The company has several clean energy projects nationwide including large-scale solar and wind farms, battery storage facilities and renewable energy purchasing agreements. Rio Tinto, unlike the ACCI resoundingly backed in the government's goal of achieving 82 per cent renewable energy generation by 2030, and said the target 'provides certainty that Australia is committed to a decarbonisation pathway underpinned by the development of renewable energy at scale'. Australia's highest profile business leaders, including Rio Tinto CEO Kellie Parker and Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest joined Mr Albanese in Shanghai, on the second day of his six day long China visit and urged the PM to unleash greater collaboration on green steel and industrial decarbonisation efforts. 'We will create the future together of steel decarbonisation,' Ms Parker said. Fortescue, who's former CEO Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest is an ardent renewables advocate used its submission to call on the government to boost taxpayer funded stimulus packages for renewable projects and lashed the ATO for not providing an adequate environment for clean energy investment. 'The Australian tax system does not currently provide sufficient incentives for major investment in new renewable or decarbonisation projects,' Fortescue's submission read.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rio Tinto increases Australian supplier spend to A$17.7 billion
MELBOURNE, Australia, April 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto strengthened its spend with Australian businesses to over A$17.7 billion in 2024, supporting both national and local suppliers. This is an increase of 9.9% from the previous year and was spent with more than 6,000 suppliers across the country. This spend has helped boost local, regional, and national economies, contributing to employment and strengthening Australian owned and managed businesses. As part of this spend, more than A$926 million was spent with 182 Indigenous businesses across Australia – an increase of about 27% since 2023. Of this, A$671 million was spent with Traditional Owner businesses that we have land use agreements with, contributing directly to the economic strength of the communities where we operate. Spending with local suppliers across Australia also increased by 14.8%, reaching A$1.3 billion. Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said: "From one side of the country to the other, our suppliers - including Indigenous, small, and regional businesses - are at the heart of our success and ability to operate in Australia. Their contributions help keep local communities strong. "We recognise the important role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our operations. That's why we continue to increase our investment with them. "In 2024, we expanded our spend with Australian Indigenous businesses by 27.5% to A$926 million and with local businesses across Australia by 14.8% to A$1.38 billion. These partnerships drive economic growth and strengthen the communities they serve." View source version on Contacts Please direct all enquiries to Media Relations,United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel ArellanoM: +44 7584 609 644David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's SquareLondon SW1Y 4ADUnited KingdomT +44 20 7781 2000Registered in EnglandNo. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins StreetMelbourne 3000AustraliaT +61 3 9283 3333Registered in AustraliaABN 96 004 458 404 Category: General
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Edify to provide solar energy to power Rio Tinto's Gladstone operations
Edify Energy has agreed to provide solar power and battery storage capacity to energise Rio Tinto's Gladstone aluminium operations in Queensland, Australia. Both companies have signed two new solar and battery hybrid services agreements (HSAs), which are integral to repowering its Gladstone aluminium operations with lower carbon energy. Rio Tinto will acquire 90% of the electricity and battery storage capacity produced by Edify's Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations for 20 years. Edify will be responsible for the construction, ownership and operation of the projects, with work set to commence in late 2025 and aiming for completion in 2028. Edify Energy chief executive John Cole stated: 'The Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations deliver the latest in solar, battery and inverter technology to support Australia's power needs. 'This collaboration is an important commitment to supporting the sustainable future of Australia's industrial sector. We are proud to advance Rio Tinto's goals to repower its Gladstone operations and to play a role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.' The Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations in Central Queensland will collectively have 600MWac [megawatts alternating current] of solar capacity and 600MW/2,400 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage. The HSAs will help Rio Tinto ensure a total of 2.7GW of future wind and solar energy in Queensland and the 2.2GW of renewable wind and solar power purchase agreements signed in 2024 for its Gladstone operations. The four contracted projects will supply 80% of Boyne smelter's annual electricity needs, reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions [emissions from sources it owns or controls and emissions which are a consequence of its activities but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it] by 70%, or 5.6Mt of CO₂ equivalent annually. Rio Tinto's 90% stake in the Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap battery system capacity totals 2,160MWh, which will supply 30% of the firming needed to transition the Boyne smelter to renewable energy. It will store renewable energy for use during peak demand or when solar output is low, boosting the stability and resilience of Queensland's power network Rio Tinto's integrated aluminium production chain in Queensland is a key economic driver, employing 4,500 people and supporting thousands more jobs. The company's Gladstone operations provide 3,000 jobs, including 1,000 at the Boyne smelter. Rio Tinto's three production sites in the Gladstone region include the Boyne aluminium smelter, the Yarwun alumina refinery and the Queensland alumina refinery. Rio Tinto Australia chief executive Kellie Parker stated: 'For the first time, we have integrated crucial battery storage in our efforts to make the Boyne aluminium smelter globally cost-competitive, as traditional energy sources become more expensive. 'We continue to investigate further renewable energy investments to repower our Gladstone aluminium operations.' "Edify to provide solar energy to power Rio Tinto's Gladstone operations" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Edify to provide solar energy to power Rio Tinto's Gladstone operations
Edify Energy has agreed to provide solar power and battery storage capacity to energise Rio Tinto's Gladstone aluminium operations in Queensland, Australia. Both companies have signed two new solar and battery hybrid services agreements (HSAs), which are integral to repowering its Gladstone aluminium operations with lower carbon energy. Rio Tinto will acquire 90% of the electricity and battery storage capacity produced by Edify's Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations for 20 years. Edify will be responsible for the construction, ownership and operation of the projects, with work set to commence in late 2025 and aiming for completion in 2028. Edify Energy chief executive John Cole stated: 'The Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations deliver the latest in solar, battery and inverter technology to support Australia's power needs. 'This collaboration is an important commitment to supporting the sustainable future of Australia's industrial sector. We are proud to advance Rio Tinto's goals to repower its Gladstone operations and to play a role in the transition to a low-carbon economy.' The Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar power stations in Central Queensland will collectively have 600MWac [megawatts alternating current] of solar capacity and 600MW/2,400 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery storage. The HSAs will help Rio Tinto ensure a total of 2.7GW of future wind and solar energy in Queensland and the 2.2GW of renewable wind and solar power purchase agreements signed in 2024 for its Gladstone operations. The four contracted projects will supply 80% of Boyne smelter's annual electricity needs, reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions [emissions from sources it owns or controls and emissions which are a consequence of its activities but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it] by 70%, or 5.6Mt of CO₂ equivalent annually. Rio Tinto's 90% stake in the Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap battery system capacity totals 2,160MWh, which will supply 30% of the firming needed to transition the Boyne smelter to renewable energy. It will store renewable energy for use during peak demand or when solar output is low, boosting the stability and resilience of Queensland's power network Rio Tinto's integrated aluminium production chain in Queensland is a key economic driver, employing 4,500 people and supporting thousands more jobs. The company's Gladstone operations provide 3,000 jobs, including 1,000 at the Boyne smelter. Rio Tinto's three production sites in the Gladstone region include the Boyne aluminium smelter, the Yarwun alumina refinery and the Queensland alumina refinery. Rio Tinto Australia chief executive Kellie Parker stated: 'For the first time, we have integrated crucial battery storage in our efforts to make the Boyne aluminium smelter globally cost-competitive, as traditional energy sources become more expensive. 'We continue to investigate further renewable energy investments to repower our Gladstone aluminium operations.' "Edify to provide solar energy to power Rio Tinto's Gladstone operations" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Guardian
13-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Rio Tinto's solar power and battery purchase for Gladstone aluminium operations praised as ‘right direction'
Mining company Rio Tinto will buy solar power and battery storage capacity for its Gladstone aluminium operations in a deal environmentalists have hailed as a 'major step' forward. The company has signed 20-year agreements with Edify Energy to buy 90% of the power and battery storage capacity generated by the Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap solar stations, located in central Queensland, Rio Tinto said. Kellie Parker, chief executive of Rio Tinto, said the agreements would provide 'affordable, reliable and low carbon energy for decades to come', as traditional energy sources became more expensive. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Together with existing wind and solar agreements, renewable energy was now expected to meet 80% of the Boyne smelter's electricity needs, the company said, reducing the facility's direct emissions by 70%, equivalent to 5.6m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Construction on the projects, located 75km south of Rockhampton, was expected to begin in late 2025 and completed in 2028, delivering 600MW of solar power and 600MW/2,400MWh of battery storage. Rio Tinto said it would continue to investigate further renewable energy investments to support its Gladstone operations, which employs more than 3,000 workers, a third of which were based at the Boyne aluminium smelter. The Edify Energy chief executive, John Cole, said the collaboration was an important commitment towards a sustainable future for the country's industrial sector. Dr Tessa Leach, a senior industry project manager at ClimateWorks Centre and lead author of a report on decarbonising Gladstone's heavy industry, described the announcement as a 'major step in the right direction'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Low-cost renewable energy would enable the region's energy-intensive industries to remain competitive, by making the most of its natural renewable energy advantages, she said. To reach its potential as a hub for clean industry, Gladstone would need access to new wind, solar and energy storage projects at the scale required to provide for electricity, heat and alternative feedstock, she said. John Grimes, the Smart Energy Council chief executive, said Rio Tinto's decision showed how quickly the world's biggest mining companies were moving towards renewable energy. It also reflected increasing global demand for decarbonised aluminium, iron and other metals, he said. 'Australia's most energy intensive sectors are backing renewables because they are more reliable, cheaper and cleaner than fossil fuel alternatives,' he said.
