Rio Tinto's Utah copper ops begins producing tellurium for US-made solar panels

Rio Tinto Group said May 11 that its Kennecott copper operation in Utah has begun producing tellurium, becoming one of only two U.S. producers of the critical mineral used in advanced thin-film photovoltaic solar panels.

Kennecott is expected to produce about 20 tons per year of tellurium from copper refining. The tellurium will then be refined in North America by 5N Plus Inc. and delivered to First Solar Inc., which designs and manufactures cadmium telluride solar panels.

5N Plus also plans to use the tellurium to make ultra-high purity semiconductor materials at its facility in Utah.

"We are proud to deliver a new domestic supply of tellurium to support the manufacturing of solar panels and other critical equipment here in the U.S.," said Rio Tinto's copper COO Clayton Walker in a statement.

S&P Global Commodity Insights produces content for distribution on S&P Capital IQ Pro.