Rio Tinto approves new solar plant for Kennecott ops to lower emissions

Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper mine in Utah. Credit: Rio Tinto.

Australian miner Rio Tinto said on Wednesday it had approved the construction of a new 25-megawatt (MW) solar plant at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah, bringing the mine’s total solar capacity to 30MW.

The previous solar plant of 5MW, along with the new one, will reduce Kennecott’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by around 6%, or 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, Rio said in a statement.

The company is targeting reductions in carbon emissions of 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

The construction of the plant will also create short-term employment opportunities for up to 100 labourers, as well as a small number of long-term operations and maintenance roles, the miner said.

The construction of the 25MW solar plant is expected to be completed next year.

(By Shivangi Lahiri; Editing by Devika Syamnath)

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