Low-Carbon Copper Supply for Industrial Data Centres

Rio Tinto and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have formalised a two-year supply agreement under which AWS will incorporate copper produced through Rio Tinto’s Nuton^® bioleaching technology into components for its United States data centres. The agreement follows the first industrial-scale deployment of Nuton at the Johnson Camp copper mine in Arizona and represents a practical step toward meeting data centre demand for lower-carbon, domestically sourced copper.

Nuton Bioleaching: How It Differs from Conventional Copper Processing
Nuton is a proprietary bioleaching technology developed by Rio Tinto that relies on naturally occurring microorganisms to extract copper from primary sulphide ores, which are typically more challenging to process with traditional methods. By using microbes controlled on site to catalyse mineral oxidation, the process dissolves copper directly in a heap-leach system. The resulting solution is then processed into 99.99 per cent pure copper cathode at the mine gate, eliminating the need for conventional concentrators, smelters and refineries that characterise standard copper production. This shortened pathway from ore to finished product improves operational efficiency and reduces both water use and carbon emissions relative to conventional concentrator-based routes.

Compared with typical industry averages on a mine-to-metal basis, early assessments indicate significantly lower carbon intensity and water consumption for Nuton copper. The modular nature of the bioleaching system also enables faster deployment and adaptation to different ore bodies, potentially unlocking resources traditionally regarded as uneconomic.

Collaboration with AWS for Digital Optimisation and Early Supply
Under the agreement, AWS is Nuton’s first customer and will provide cloud-based data and analytics support to optimise the bioleaching process at the Johnson Camp mine. AWS platforms will be used to simulate heap-leach behaviour and feed advanced analytics into Nuton’s decision systems, enabling improved management of inputs such as acid and water and enhanced predictability of copper recovery. Copper supplied under the agreement is intended for use across AWS data centre infrastructure, including electrical cables, transformers, motors, printed circuit boards, and thermal management systems.

The deployment contributes to strengthening domestic supply resilience for critical infrastructure materials, reducing dependence on longer-haul imports, and aligning with broader decarbonisation efforts in technology supply chains.

Context: Copper Demand and Competitive Positioning
Copper is essential for data centre construction due to its high electrical conductivity and thermal performance. Demand from cloud computing and artificial intelligence-driven infrastructure is expected to grow substantially, intensifying competition for reliable, sustainably produced supply. Nuton’s bioleaching approach positions Rio Tinto distinctively against conventional copper producers by offering a lower-carbon alternative that can leverage ores previously unsuitable for standard processing. This may appeal to technology companies seeking to align materials sourcing with environmental and climate goals.

Although Nuton currently contributes a modest portion of overall production capacity, the collaboration with AWS exemplifies early commercial uptake of innovative extraction methods. This differentiates Rio Tinto’s offer from traditional copper supply models while addressing emerging customer priorities for sustainability and supply chain proximity.

The Nuton-AWS collaboration exemplifies how mining innovation and digital technologies can intersect to address evolving market requirements for lower-carbon materials. By integrating cloud-enabled analytics with bioleaching, the initiative aims to refine production efficiency and support the growing infrastructure needs of the digital economy with copper that has a reduced environmental footprint and a shorter supply chain.

www.riotinto.com