Rio Tinto eyes biochar to replace coal at its Queensland refineries

Rio Tinto has signed an agreement with an Australian company to develop a biochar product that could help replace coal used in its emissions-intensive Queensland refineries. The $30 million facility is being presented as part of the mining giant's strategy to cut its carbon footprint.

Biochar is being explored as an alternative fuel source for industrial processes that traditionally rely on coal. The company will test how far the technology can be scaled up across its refinery operations in the period ahead.

The move comes amid rising pressure across the mining sector to cut emissions. Whether Rio Tinto extends the project to other facilities remains to be seen.