- AWS demand eclipses Arizona copper production despite domestic mining recovery
- Nuton technology shortens copper processing while leaving scale limitations unresolved
- Only part of the deal relies on Rio Tinto’s low-carbon method
As global demand for copper continues to rise, Amazon Web Services has agreed to source newly mined copper from Rio Tinto’s Arizona operations, marking the first domestic supply of copper in more than a decade.
The materials will come primarily from the Johnson Camp mine, which has been restarted as a testing ground for Rio Tinto’s Nuton bioleaching process.
The deal directly links copper production to the construction of data centers in the United States, where demand has increased sharply due to the expansion of IT infrastructure.
Nuton technology and digital monitoring
Each large-scale facility requires very large volumes of copper, raising questions about the realistic impact of a single mine.
Nuton relies on natural microorganisms to extract copper from primary sulfide ores, avoiding several steps common in conventional processing.
The method produces a copper cathode at the mine site, reducing the need for concentrators, smelters and refineries.
AWS infrastructure supports simulations of heap leach behavior and powers 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 the input geological data rather than the sophistication of the model alone.
Rio Tinto says Nuton uses less water and generates fewer carbon emissions than standard concentration methods, while allowing the recovery of ore previously classified as waste.
The process would provide a 99.99% pure copper cathode, simplifying downstream logistics.
However, published projections indicate that only a portion of the total copper delivered under the deal will come from this method.
Additional tonnage will be provided by conventional run-of-mine leaching, which reduces the overall environmental benefit claimed for the collaboration.
Over the next four years, Rio Tinto will produce approximately 14,000 metric tonnes of Nuton copper, with delivery approaching 30,000 tonnes once conventional leaching is included.
A single large data center alone can consume tens of thousands of tons, showing that the deal only covers a small fraction of AWS demand.
Beyond physical supply, the deal gives AWS an early position in upstream materials related to the growth of AI-driven infrastructure.
Copper remains essential to building the electrical systems that power data centers, making availability a practical constraint for large-scale AI deployments, including LLMs.
“Amazon’s Climate Commitment goal of reaching net zero carbon by 2040 requires us to innovate in every part of our operations, including how we source the materials that power our infrastructure,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer.
“This collaboration with Nuton Technology represents exactly the kind of breakthrough we need: a fundamentally different approach to copper production that helps reduce carbon emissions and water consumption. As we continue to invest in next-generation carbon-free energy technology and expand our data center operations, ensuring access to low-carbon materials produced close to home strengthens both the resilience of our supply chain and our ability to decarbonize at scale.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
