⚗️ Amazon buys copper produced with microorganisms in new climate-friendly process

• Amazon has signed a two-year agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto to purchase copper produced using a biological process that uses significantly less water than traditional methods.
• The process uses microorganisms to extract copper from ore that previously often became waste, eliminating the need for traditional smelters and refineries.
• The technology can strengthen domestic copper supply without waiting for permits for new mines, a process that normally takes many years.

Biological process extracts copper from difficult-to-process ore

Amazon becomes the first buyer of copper that Rio Tinto produces with a new process called Nuton. The process uses microorganisms to extract copper from sulphide ore. The method is called bioleaching.

Rio Tinto began using the process late last year at a previously dormant facility in Arizona belonging to Gunnison Copper Corp. The company plans to use the technology at more locations in North and South America.

What makes the process particularly interesting is that it can extract copper from American ore that is traditionally difficult to process. This ore has often become waste in conventional copper extraction.

Shorter supply chain and lower water consumption

The process eliminates the need for traditional concentrators, smelters and refineries. This significantly shortens the supply chain from mine to market.

Water consumption is also considerably lower. The process uses around 55 percent as much water per unit of copper compared to the global industry average.

Katie Jackson, Rio Tinto's copper chief, highlights that the technology can strengthen domestic copper supply without the many years required to obtain permits for new mines. The US administration classifies copper as a critical mineral.

Data centers drive copper demand

Chris Roe, Amazon's director of worldwide carbon, describes the deal as a new area for the company's sustainability work. Amazon has previously focused on steel and concrete.

Copper is a core commodity for Amazon's data centers and operations worldwide. Overall copper demand is rising, and growth of data centers could worsen the shortfall already expected in coming decades, according to a report from S&P Global.

As part of the agreement, Amazon is providing cloud-based data and analytics support to help with production.

Small volume initially with potential to grow

Initial production is a small portion of Rio Tinto's total copper output. The company expects to produce around 14,000 tons of Nuton copper over four years from the Johnson Camp mine in Gunnison.

Rio Tinto's global copper production amounted to nearly 900,000 tons last year.

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