Rio Tinto, Prysmian Ship ELYSIS Aluminum Cables to Amazon

Prysmian and Rio Tinto are supplying electrical cables containing lower-carbon aluminum for an Amazon data center in Ohio. The installation near Columbus represents the first known application of inert-anode smelted aluminum in such infrastructure, according to the two companies.

The cables utilize ELYSIS® technology, which replaces carbon anodes with inert materials to eliminate direct greenhouse gas emissions during smelting. While the process produces oxygen as a by-product, the firms have not provided data on the full lifecycle emissions of the final cable product.

Aluminum production leverages hydropower

Rio Tinto produced the aluminum in Québec, Canada, using hydropower. The metal was generated through a joint venture with Alcoa, which is developing the ELYSIS® inert-anode process. This approach aims to reduce the carbon intensity of the raw material before it enters the cable manufacturing stage.

Cables manufactured in Missouri

Prysmian manufactures and ships the cables from its factory in Sedalia, Missouri. This arrangement extends the partnership announced in March, when the two companies first introduced ELYSIS aluminum into building wire products. The move signals a broader shift toward low-carbon materials in utility-scale applications.

Commercial terms remain undisclosed

Neither company has disclosed the volume of aluminum, the total financial value, or the specific installation timetable for the project. Matt Schicke, Rio Tinto Aluminum VP for Sales and Marketing, stated that the collaboration demonstrates how value chain innovation can deliver practical lower-carbon solutions for customers. As reported by Mining.com.au, the specific figures for this Amazon contract have not been made public.