Nuton

Nuton® Technology: powering America’s lowest-carbon copper

March 31, 2026

Nuton, a Rio Tinto venture, is redefining what’s possible in sustainable mining. Over the next three years, Nuton has committed to purchasing 134,000 Green-e Energy-certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated from US renewables. By combining proprietary bioleaching technology and investment in renewable energy, Nuton is positioning Gunnison Copper Corp.’s Johnson Camp Mine (JCM) to be the lowest-carbon copper producer in the U.S.

“Nuton’s investment further strengthens our ambition to produce the lowest-carbon copper while bringing copper to market faster and more efficiently,” says Nuton Interim Chief Executive Officer Cecilia Perla.

Nuton commits to Renewable Energy Certificates investment

Central to Nuton’s mission is its Positive Impact commitment. This achievement isn’t just a milestone; it is a blueprint for the future of industry – proving that copper production can be smarter, cleaner, and more efficient.

The purchase of these RECs generated from US renewables over the next three years further proves this pledge. These RECs:

  • Corresponds to one megawatt-hour of renewable electricity delivered to the grid
  • Ensure that 100% of JCM’s electricity consumption is matched by renewable generation
  • Mitigate Scope 2 emissions
  • Help produce low-carbon intensity copper

A Renewable Energy Certificate is a market-based instrument that represents the legal property right to the renewable attributes of electricity generation. For every megawatt-hour of clean energy produced and sent to the power grid, one REC is created, allowing Nuton to formally track and claim the environmental benefits of its energy use.

“For every megawatt-hour of clean energy produced and sent to the power grid, one REC is created…”

Life Cycle Assessment confirms lower carbon footprint

Nuton’s technology is delivering a high-quality product with a significantly reduced environmental footprint, and the results of this integrated approach are industry-leading. A recent ISO-certified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirms that copper produced at Johnson Camp Mine – supported by Nuton technology and RECs investment – is expected to result in a carbon footprint of just 0.82kg CO2-e per kilogram of copper, measured by a “mine-to-refined metal” basis.

To put this in perspective:

  • JCM Carbon Footprint: 0.82 kg CO2-e / kg Cu
  • Projected 2026 Global Average: 3.4 kg CO2-e / kg Cu1

The LCA also estimates that JCM has a direct water consumption of 71 liters per kilogram of copper, a fraction of the 130 liters per kilogram of copper consumed at the typical copper mine.2

Ultimately, Nuton is proving that through biology, digital innovation, and renewable energy, the transition to a low-carbon economy can be powered by copper that is as responsible as it is essential.

  1. Skarn Associates Copper Mine GHG and Energy Intensity Curve Generator, November 2025 dataset for the year 2026. The E1 metric includes all GHG emissions from mine to refined metal.
  2. Water and carbon emissions intensities for Johnson Camp and global averages have been validated by Skarn Associates, a leading provider of carbon and water intensity curves for the industry.