Rio Tinto partners with Canadian government to decarbonise Rio Tinto Fer et Titane

The partnership will support technological innovations that represent a first step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from RTFT’s titanium dioxide, steel and metal powders business by up to 70 per cent. It will also progress initiatives to diversify RTFT’s product portfolio.

The Canadian government is investing up to $162m over the next eight years to support these initiatives through its Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).

In a statement, Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said: “Good middle-class jobs, clean air, and made-in-Canada tech: this is our vision for a strong economy and a strong future. Today’s announcement is about delivering on that vision and positioning Canada as a leader in critical minerals – a key part of things like electric vehicles.”

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The partnership will support initiatives including the BlueSmelting project, described as an ilmenite smelting technology that could generate 95 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than RTFT’s current reduction process. According to Rio Tinto, this will enable production of high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock, steel and metal powders with a reduced carbon footprint.