Element Resources to study Rio Tinto site in US for green H2 project

Element Resources Inc has signed a deal with mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) allowing it to study the feasibility of building a green hydrogen production plant at its US Borax mine site in Boron, California.

The parties have inked a surface lease agreement and the Houston, Texas-based hydrogen production firm will now evaluate the commercial viability of the project, according to a recent statement.

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The contemplated green hydrogen station will be of industrial scale and will be powered by a dedicated, co-located off-grid solar farm.

“This is just another example of our dedication to decarbonization, and we look forward to working in collaboration with Element Resources in their next steps,” said Renny Dillinger, general manager of US Borax.

Last year, Rio Tinto entered into a supply agreement with Finland’s Neste Oyj to secure enough renewable diesel to switch all of its heavy machinery at the US Borax mine away from fossil diesel.