Deepens partnership with Aymium to produce renewable biocarbon at new facility toward the reduction of carbon emissions in metal smelting operations.

In an ambitious move toward sustainable industrial practices, Rio Tinto and Aymium have partnered to create Évolys Québec Inc., a joint venture focused on producing renewable metallurgical biocarbon as an alternative to traditional carbon sources used in metal smelting processes.

In 2022, Rio Tinto, Steel Dynamics, and Nippon Steel Trading formed a strategic partnership with Aymium, investing over $200 million in its innovative biocarbon technology. This collaboration aimed to replace fossil fuel inputs in metals production with Aymium's carbon-negative products, reducing CO2 emissions and advancing their sustainability goals.

"Our mission is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and reduce the impact on the environment," said Aymium CEO James Mennell at the time of the investment. "Aymium's products allow immediate replacement of fossil fuels with renewable, carbon negative inputs without any changes to existing manufacturing processes or equipment. This investment and partnership will further advance our mission of improving the environment with our new partners on a global scale."

Less than a year later, Rio Tinto strengthened its cooperation with Aymium through additional investment following successful trials of Aymium's biocarbon at Rio Tinto's metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, Québec.

This biocarbon, produced using Aymium's proprietary technology, has shown promising results as a renewable and carbon-negative alternative to anthracite coal, traditionally used as a source of carbon for metal smelting processes.

Aymium's high-purity biocarbon

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Minnesota, Aymium began with a mission to advance renewable energy solutions by developing technologies to replace fossil fuels in various industries.

Over the years, the company has focused on producing biocarbon and biohydrogen products designed to immediately replace coal, coke, and other fossil fuel-based inputs in metal production, energy generation, agriculture, and purification of air and water.

Today, the company operates the largest advanced biocarbon facility in the world, located in northern Michigan, which has been supplying customers globally since its inception.

Backed by more than 250 issued and pending patents, Aymium's innovations utilize certified, sustainably sourced biomass to create renewable, carbon-negative products.

Aymium's patented process converts certified, sustainably sourced biomass into biocarbon using integrated thermolysis. The non-combustion process converts biomass to high-purity biocarbon and biogas, recovers and recycles water from the biomass, and is powered by self-generated renewable energy.

This process produces the only commercially demonstrated carbon-negative input for global steel production. According to the company, every ton of Aymium's product used in place of coal results in a net reduction of over five tons of CO2.

Revitalizing a Fortress site

Building on this success, the most recent joint venture will see the establishment of a new facility on the site of a former pulp and paper mill in Thurso, Québec, which the government of Québec selected for the companies to jointly revitalize.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for Aymium to expand our partnership with Rio Tinto through Évolys and develop this new project in Québec in addition to our current developments in the United States," said Mennell. "Aymium is actively offering their products to several customers in Canada, and we see a great potential to expand the usage of biocarbon across many industries."

Rio Tinto views this venture as a crucial step in its broader sustainability goals.

"Decarbonization is at the core of Rio Tinto's strategy, and the Évolys joint venture provides us with a unique opportunity to produce local biocarbon, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of our Québec operations," said Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium and Diamonds Managing Director Sophie Bergeron. "We are pleased to be working with the government of Québec to give a second life to the former Fortress site in Thurso and look forward to collaborating with local communities and our partner, Aymium, to develop a project that will not only benefit the environment but also reinvigorate the regional economy."

Closed in 2019, the pulp and paper mill, formerly owned by Fortress, is situated in the municipalities of Thurso and Lochaber-Partie-Ouest. The Government of Québec appointed Deloitte, a professional services firm, to manage the takeover process and evaluate proposals from candidates interested in repurposing the facilities, including utilizing the available biomass.

"The Évolys Québec project will enable a sustainable revival of the former Fortress site. It's a new beginning with a technology that both decarbonizes our economy and adds value to the region's forest residues," said Québec Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy; Minister for Regional Economic Development; and Minister for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region, Pierre Fitzgibbon.

Évolys will lease the portion of the pulp and paper mill that will be revitalized. Both partners are committed to advancing products and technologies that go beyond the conventional use of biocarbon as a substitute for fossil fuels.

Further details of the project, including a timeline for the start of production, will be communicated as soon as the transition process is completed.