Company
Rio Tinto
A UK-Australian diversified mining group that expanded into lithium through its Rincon project in Argentina and its 2025 acquisition of Arcadium Lithium.
Covered in 2 MetalsCost.com News Intelligence articles, most recently on August 15, 2026.
Coverage
Copper
It Takes 50,000 Tons of Copper to Build One AI Data Center, So Miners Are Now Mining Their Own Waste
Building one hyperscale AI data center takes about 50,000 tons of copper. With new US mines averaging 23 years to reach production, miners including BHP and Rio Tinto are now testing recovery of copper from decades-old mining waste instead.
Lithium
Battery Storage Overtakes EVs as Lithium's Fastest-Growing Demand Source
Lithium consumption grew 45% through May 2026, above Albemarle's own forecast, as battery storage and AI data-center backup power offset a 13% Chinese EV sales decline.
