Rio Tinto has announced a strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to bring low-carbon Nuton copper—produced using a breakthrough bioleaching technology—into AWS’s U.S. data centre operations. The partnership marks AWS as the first customer for Nuton Technology following the successful industrial-scale deployment of the process at the Johnson Camp copper mine in Arizona. Under a two-year agreement, AWS will incorporate the first batch of Nuton copper into components used in its U.S. data centres. These components include electrical cables, busbars, transformer windings, printed circuit boards, and processor heat sinks—key materials essential for data centre infrastructure. The collaboration leverages AWS’s cloud computing and advanced analytics capabilities to optimize the performance of Nuton’s proprietary bioleaching system. By using digital simulations and real-time data analysis, the project enhances predictions for copper recovery, reduces acid and water consumption, and improves operational efficiency at the Johnson Camp mine. Nuton’s modular bioleaching process uses naturally occurring microorganisms to extract copper from primary sulphide ores, eliminating the need for traditional concentrators, smelters, and refineries. This significantly shortens the supply chain and reduces environmental impact. The process produces 99.99% pure copper cathode directly at the mine site and enables the recovery of value from ore previously considered waste. According to third-party life cycle assessments conducted by Skarn Associates, Johnson Camp’s Nuton copper has a full-scope carbon footprint of just 2.82 kgCO₂e per kilogram of copper—well below the global average range of 1.5 to 8.0 kgCO₂e/kg Cu. The site also aims for 100% renewable electricity through the purchase of 134,000 Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates. Water use is projected at 71 litres per kilogram of copper, compared to a global average of around 130 litres per kilogram. Rio Tinto Copper Chief Executive Katie Jackson highlighted the significance of the partnership, calling it a model for how industrial innovation and digital technology can drive cleaner, more sustainable materials production. She emphasized the importance of bringing critical materials like copper closer to where they are used, strengthening domestic supply chain resilience. Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kara Hurst said the collaboration aligns with Amazon’s Climate Pledge to achieve net zero carbon by 2040. She noted that Nuton’s approach represents a transformative shift in copper production, reducing both carbon emissions and water use while supporting the expansion of AWS’s data centre network with responsibly sourced materials. The Johnson Camp project is expected to produce approximately 30,000 tonnes of refined copper over four years, with about 16,000 tonnes from run-of-mine leaching and 14,000 tonnes from the Nuton technology. With this milestone, the mine is now recognized as the lowest-carbon primary copper producer in the United States on a mine-to-refined metal basis.