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AWS signs mega deal with Rio Tinto for the first new copper mine in the US 
for years - here's what it could do with that windfall

Date:
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:50:00 +0000

Description:
Amazons Arizona copper deal reveals domestic supply ambitions and how limited
mining output remains against expanding AI data center demand.

FULL STORY

As global copper demand continues to rise , Amazon Web Services has agreed to
source newly mined copper from Rio Tintos operations in Arizona, marking the
first domestic copper supply in more than a decade. 

The material will come primarily from the Johnson Camp mine, which has
restarted as a proving ground for Rio Tintos Nuton bioleaching process. 

The agreement links copper output directly to US data center construction,
where demand has risen sharply due to expanding compute infrastructure.

Nuton technology and digital oversight

Each hyperscale facility requires very large copper volumes, which raises
questions about how much impact a single mine can realistically have. 
Nuton relies on naturally occurring microorganisms to extract copper from
primary sulfide ores, avoiding several stages common in conventional
processing. 

The method produces a copper cathode at the mine site, which reduces reliance
on concentrators, smelters, and refineries.  AWS infrastructure supports
simulations of heap leach behavior and feeds analytics into operational
decisions.

These systems resemble those used to manage AI tools in large software
environments, although their effectiveness depends on the quality and
stability of geological input data rather than model sophistication alone. 

Rio Tinto claims Nuton uses less water and generates lower carbon emissions
than standard concentrator routes, while enabling recovery from ore 
previously classed as waste. The process reportedly delivers 99.99% pure
copper cathode, which simplifies downstream logistics.

However, published projections indicate that only part of the total copper
delivered under the deal will come from this method. 

Additional tonnage will be supplied through conventional run-of-mine 
leaching, which reduces the overall environmental benefit claimed for the
collaboration. 

Over the next four years, Rio Tinto will produce around 14,000 metric tonnes
of Nuton copper, with delivery nearing 30,000 tonnes once it includes
conventional leaching. 

A single large data center can consume tens of thousands of tonnes on its 
own, which shows that the agreement covers only a small fraction of AWS
demand. 

Beyond physical supply, the deal gives AWS an early foothold in upstream
materials tied to AI-driven infrastructure growth. 

Copper remains essential for building the electrical systems that power data
centers, which makes availability a practical constraint on large-scale AI
deployments, including LLMs . 

"Amazons Climate Pledge goal to reach net zero carbon by 2040 requires us to
innovate across every part of our operations, including how we source the
materials that power our infrastructure," said Amazons Chief Sustainability
Officer, Kara Hurst. 

"This collaboration with Nuton Technology represents exactly the kind of
breakthrough we needa fundamentally different approach to copper production
that helps reduce carbon emissions and water use. As we continue to invest in
next-generation carbon-free energy technology and expand our data center
operations, securing access to lower-carbon materials produced close to home
strengthens both our supply chain resilience and our ability to decarbonize 
at scale. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/aws-signs-mega-deal-with-rio-tinto-for-the-first
-new-copper-mine-in-the-us-for-years-heres-what-it-could-do-with-that-windfall

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