Rio Tinto backs Queensland biochar facility plans

Rio Tinto is moving to test locally produced bana grass bio pellets as a partial replacement for coal in its Gladstone alumina refineries, aiming to cut fossil fuel use amid the Bayer process’s high thermal demands. A five-year offtake agreement with SuperChar would deliver tens of thousands of tonnes of bio pellets in 2028, with trials showing potential coal displacement of up to 30% and feasibility for blends up to 50%.