Amazon signs deal to use biotech copper mine to build data center
Amazon has formed a strategic partnership with Rio Tinto, a mining company that aims to utilize low-grade copper, which is too expensive to crush and transport. The company will use bioleaching, a process that uses microorganisms to produce copper, to extract the copper needed for data center construction.
Rio Tinto and Amazon Web Services collaborate to bring low-carbon Nuton copper to US data centers | Global
Exclusive | Amazon Is Buying America's First New Copper Output in More Than a Decade - WSJ
Amazon will utilize copper leaching technology developed by Nuton Technologies , a venture company under Rio Tinto. This technology uses oxygen, water, and natural microorganisms to extract copper from ore, eliminating the need for a smelter and significantly shortening the supply chain from mine to market.
Nuton Technologies expects to produce 14,000 tons of copper over four years at its Arizona mine, which is expected to utilize low-grade ore left behind in old mines, which would be costly to mine using conventional methods.
The largest data centers require tens of thousands of tons of copper for large-scale components such as wiring and circuit boards. In recent years, demand for copper has surged along with the surge in demand for data centers, with copper prices hitting record highs in London and New York in January 2026. Futures prices rose 41% year-on-year, and analysts have warned that a copper shortage risks hindering the AI boom.
Amazon has quickly jumped on the latest technology and has decided to support Nuton Technologies as its first customer. In exchange for receiving the copper, Amazon will provide cloud computing and data analytics capabilities to help optimize recovery rates and expand production.
Katie Jackson, CEO of Rio Tinto's Copper business, said: 'Not only does our technology enable us to process ores that were previously unprofitable, it also does so with low carbon and water consumption, which is important. We are pleased to have customers who understand this value.'
Chris Law, Amazon's carbon chief, said: 'To drive business growth, we are exploring low-carbon solutions at the product level. 'When it comes to data centres, copper is an important component in addition to the steel and concrete needed for construction. A fundamentally different approach to copper production will help reduce carbon emissions and water usage.'
Related Posts:
in Note, Posted by log1p_kr