Mining operator Rio Tinto will accelerate its investment in research and development of new technologies that enable its customers to decarbonise while maintaining efficiencies as part of its strategy to improve business performance.

The company said it would partner with governments, suppliers, customers, academia, and others to develop carbon-free operations and build multiple green pathways.

It explained the driver was a growing demand for net-zero emissions across multiple industries, which has led to an increased interest in commodities that help businesses transition to green energy.

Governments are setting more ambitious targets and accelerating actions on climate change, it explained. This means society is demanding companies take more action to decarbonise.

For that reason, it will quicken the development of ELYSIS to eliminate carbon emissions from smelting processes and aims to have the technology fully available by 2024.

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said the business is taking action to improve its performance by "unleashing full potential" of its people and assets while "working in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders".

"All our commodities are vital for the energy transition and continue to benefit from ongoing urbanisation," Stausholm said.

"We have a clear pathway to decarbonise our business and are actively developing technologies that will enable our customers and our customers' customers to decarbonise."