Rio Tinto and Sumitomo to assess hydrogen pilot plant at Gladstone’s Yarwun alumina refinery
August 23 2021 - 10:00PM
Business Wire
Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation today announced a partnership
to study the construction of a hydrogen pilot plant at Rio Tinto’s
Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone and explore the potential use
of hydrogen at the refinery.
The two global companies have signed a letter of intent that
focuses on Yarwun as the location for a Gladstone hydrogen plant
that Sumitomo has been studying. If the project proceeds, the pilot
plant would produce hydrogen for the recently announced Gladstone
Hydrogen Ecosystem.
The study supports the efforts of Australian, Queensland and
local governments to establish Gladstone as a clean hydrogen hub of
the future.
Rio Tinto Australia Chief Executive Kellie Parker said “Rio
Tinto has a long relationship with Sumitomo and we are delighted to
partner with them to explore the possibilities of hydrogen, not
only for our own refinery, but for Sumitomo to supply industry more
broadly in Gladstone.
“Reducing the carbon intensity of our alumina production will be
key to meeting our 2030 and 2050 climate targets. There is clearly
more work to be done, but partnerships and projects like this are
an important part of helping us get there.”
Sumitomo Corporation’s Energy Innovation Initiative Director
Hajime Mori said “We are excited about working together with Rio
Tinto as our long-term partner to develop this hydrogen project in
Gladstone and working toward our company’s vision of achieving
carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We believe the pilot plant will play a significant role in
establishing the Gladstone Hydrogen Ecosystem.
“Sumitomo has commenced the Design Study and Preliminary Master
Planning to build the Gladstone hydrogen ecosystem and we will
continue to work towards future hydrogen exports from
Gladstone.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles
said Gladstone is an industrial powerhouse and this partnership
presents a great opportunity for the region and for Queensland.
“This is only the beginning of a wave of international
collaborations that will lead to new industries and new jobs
underpinned by the supply of renewable energy,” Mr Miles said.
“With the Palaszczuk Government’s strong commitment to creating
more jobs in emerging industries, we will work to keep Queensland
at the forefront of renewable hydrogen and the opportunities that
come with it.”
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said
the Palaszczuk Government was developing Queensland’s Energy Plan
to reinforce our platform for international partnerships focused on
new technology and a stronger Australia.
“This is a plan to create a renewable energy ecosystem that will
power our low-carbon ambitions to transform industry, create
thousands of jobs for Queenslanders, and decarbonise not only
Queensland but the nation.”
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister
for Water Glenn Butcher said the partnership would provide
important economic opportunities for the entire Central Queensland
region.
“Gladstone’s world-class deep water port, water security through
Awoonga Dam, and industry attraction via the local State
Development Area have set Gladstone up to become the hydrogen
capital of Australia, providing massive employment and supply chain
opportunities both locally and in the Central Queensland
region.”
The Sumitomo partnership complements a recently announced
feasibility study into using hydrogen to replace natural gas in the
alumina refining process at Yarwun and provides the potential for
larger-scale implementation if the studies are successful.
About Rio Tinto:
Rio Tinto produces high-quality iron ore, copper, aluminium, and
minerals that have an essential role in enabling the low-carbon
transition. We have publicly acknowledged the reality of climate
change for over two decades and have reduced our emissions
footprint by over 30 percent in the decade to 2020. We have set
2030 targets to reduce our absolute emissions by 15% and our
emissions intensity by 30% relative to our 2018 baseline. These
targets are consistent with a 45% reduction in absolute emissions,
relative to 2010 levels, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) pathways to 1.5°C. They are supported by our
commitment to spend approximately $1 billion on emissions reduction
initiatives over the first five years of the ten-year target
period. In 2020, we set new Scope 3 emissions reduction goals to
guide our partnership approach across our value chain. Read more
about our approach to climate change:
www.riotinto.com/invest/reports/climate-change-report
About Sumitomo Corporation:
Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) is a leading Fortune 500 global
trading and business investment company with 135 locations (Japan:
22, Overseas: 113) in 66 countries and regions. The entire SC Group
consists of more than 900 companies. SC conducts commodity
transactions in all industries utilising worldwide networks,
provides customers with financing, serves as an organiser and a
coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to
promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include
six business units: Metal Products; Transportation &
Construction Systems; Infrastructure; Media & Digital; Living
Related & Real Estate; and Mineral Resources, Energy, Chemical
& Electronics, and one initiative: Energy Innovation.
Sumitomo Corporation established a new business organisation
entitled the Energy Innovation Initiative (EII) in April 2021 which
will carry this Gladstone project. In order to greatly contribute
to the achievement of our long-term goals toward climate change
mitigation, "Carbon neutralisation in 2050" and "Realisation of a
sustainable energy cycle", we will accelerate our efforts for the
materialisation of a hydrogen society by promoting hydrogen related
businesses.
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