Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO) is making waves with a new partnership. The company will supply Amazon Web Services (NASDAQ: AMZN) with copper from its Johnson Camp mine in Arizona using Nuton technology. This process uses microbes to extract copper directly from ore. What is striking is that it is now being deployed at industrial scale, not just in pilot programs.
AWS will be the first customer for Nuton copper, which will go into U.S. data center components. At the same time, AWS is providing cloud analytics to help Rio Tinto fine-tune the process. The goal is to maximize copper recovery and reduce inputs like water and acid, improving efficiency along the way. For investors, this is a notable blend of industrial innovation and practical application.
What Sets Nuton Apart
Traditional copper processing relies on smelting and refining, which consumes a lot of energy. Nuton skips much of that. The copper comes out nearly pure at the mine, reducing emissions and water use. Early data shows water usage at roughly half the global industry average. Carbon emissions are also significantly lower and the mine offsets electricity consumption with renewable energy certificates. This combination could give Rio Tinto an edge in ESG-focused markets.
Production Outlook
Rio Tinto expects to produce about 30,000 tonnes of refined copper over the next four years from Johnson Camp. Roughly half will come from conventional processing and the other half from Nuton’s microbial method. It is not a massive share of global copper supply, but it is significant for U.S. data center sourcing. More importantly, it provides a chance to prove Nuton’s scalability and efficiency at commercial levels.
Why Investors Should Watch
Nuton could transform Rio Tinto’s operations. Lower processing costs, reduced environmental risk, and first-mover advantages in low-carbon copper extraction make it potentially a differentiator. Success here would bolster RIO’s credibility with ESG investors and industrial customers alike.
From a strategic perspective, this is not just a supply deal. It is a test case for the future of copper mining. If Nuton works at scale, Rio Tinto could emerge as a leader in low-carbon metals, a position that may become increasingly valuable as demand from data centers and electronics continues to rise.
