Shanghai Securities News China Securities Network News (Reporter Song Weiping) Rio Tinto Group announced that it will participate in the 6th China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as the Expo) from November 5th to 10th with the theme of "Rio Tinto's Better Way, Creating a Low Carbon Future Together". It will once again appear in the "Energy Source Low Carbon and Environmental Protection Technology" section of the technical equipment exhibition area, presenting its high-quality product portfolio including iron, aluminum, copper, and other industrial metal minerals, And for the first time, it showcases the latest practices and cutting-edge applications of the company in promoting its own low-carbon transformation and assisting in decarbonization of the industry value chain.
Alf Barrios, Chief Business Officer and Chairman of Rio Tinto Group in China, stated: This year marks Rio Tinto's sixth year of participation in the CIIE and its second appearance as an exhibitor. The CIIE is an important platform for China to share development opportunities and promote international cooperation. It provides an excellent opportunity for companies like Rio Tinto to deepen exchanges and expand cooperation with Chinese partners. China is not only Rio Tinto's largest market and important strategic partner, but also an important source of our technology, talent, and solutions. We look forward to working with China continues to carry out win-win cooperation, providing stable and high-quality products and services for China's high-quality development, and working together with Chinese partners to promote decarbonization of the entire value chain
At this year's CIIE, Rio Tinto will showcase its breakthrough patented low-carbon technology, BioIron, for the first time in China. This process uses biomass instead of coking coal as a reducing agent in the steel smelting process, including agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, rapeseed straw, barley straw, or specially grown crops, and converts Pilbara iron ore into metallic iron through microwave energy. As one of the carbon reduction technologies being developed by Rio Tinto, BioIron is expected to promote near zero carbon dioxide emissions during the steel smelting process. If combined with carbon capture and storage technologies, this technology may achieve net negative emissions, which is of great significance for the low-carbon transformation of the value chain.
In addition, Rio Tinto will further showcase the START brand - a supply chain traceability, transparency, and assurance platform based on blockchain technology. Just like nutrition labels in daily life, START records the sustainability and proof of origin of product materials, and can transparently display the production location and method of materials to help customers and end users make better choices. At present, Rio Tinto has collaborated with brands such as BMW Group to deploy START, and has partnered with Corona Canada to launch the first special edition low-carbon cans, fully utilizing the insights brought by the START brand. These collaborations will be showcased during the CIIE.
It is reported that during the exhibition, Rio Tinto will also showcase the company's deepening cooperation with Chinese partners, working together to promote the development and achievements of low-carbon innovation, and actively participating in activities such as the Hongqiao International Economic Forum to further expand cooperation with Chinese partners.
2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Rio Tinto Group and the 50th anniversary of Rio Tinto's first shipment of iron ore arriving in China. In May of this year, Rio Tinto signed a contract with the China International Import Expo Bureau, becoming the first Fortune 500 company to promise to continue participating in the CIIE in the next five years, demonstrating Rio Tinto's commitment to upstream and downstream partners in China's value chain. Rio Tinto stated that it will continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Chinese partners and is committed to becoming a trustworthy partner on China's high-quality and sustainable development path.