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☆ Critical mineral mining is key to the green transition, but experts warn reputational risks remain
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesMining of critical minerals plays a crucial role in the global green transition, but the broader industry's bad reputation and other challenges present investment barriers, industry experts warn. Critical minerals include metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, and are important components in emerging green technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. Speaking on a panel at Singapore's annual Ecosperity Week, which ended Wednesday, mining industry experts and investors said the growing demand from green tech makes it necessary to increase government support and capital flows into the critical mining sector. Many of the same companies that mine critical minerals also mine environmentally damaging fossil fuels like coal. One area that has seen recent strides and investments has been in the recycling of critical minerals, which cuts down the need of extraction.

Persons: Adam Matthews, Dominic Barton, Barton, Scott Clements Organizations: PT Vale, Getty Images, Global Investor Commission, Mining, Royal Bank of Canada, Rio Tinto, LeapFrog Investments, International Renewable Energy Agency, EV, World Bank, Tribeca Capital Locations: PT Vale Indonesia, China, Paris, Rio, Indonesia's Sulawesi, Rio Tinto, Western Australia

☆ Aboriginal Group to Inspect Rock Shelters for Potential Rio Tinto Damage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Aboriginal group from Western Australia's iron ore producing region will inspect an important cultural site in the coming days after it received a notice from Rio Tinto of possible damage, the group's chief executive said. "The Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation was advised by Rio Tinto in late December of the potential impact on a rock shelter at the Mesa C Robe Valley operations," Anthony Galante, Chief Executive Officer of Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation (RRKAC) told Reuters. Rio Tinto has advised the group that a preliminary investigation found no damage to the shelter but it has not performed an on-ground inspection due to cultural restrictions, RRKAC said. Rio Tinto did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Given that history, the RRKAC has "grave concerns" about Rio Tinto's ability to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage, Galante said.

Persons: Anthony Galante, RRKAC, Rio, Rio Tinto, Muntulgura, Galante, Melanie Burton, Lincoln Organizations: MELBOURNE, Aboriginal Corporation, Rio Tinto, Reuters Locations: Rio Tinto, Rio

☆ In Australia's outback, Rio Tinto prepares for a low carbon future
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rio Tinto hosted media to Gudai-darri's mine, plant and 34 megawatt solar farm last week, as well as its Dampier port and rail operations. At Gudai-darri, Rio will not mine below the water table in order to conserve an aquifer important to the Banjima people. Iron ore exports were worth A$124 billion ($78.79 billion) last year. Earlier this month, Aboriginal elders walked off a heritage survey on a Rio Tinto iron ore project over concerns it had played down the harm it caused them after blasting impacted an Indigenous rock shelter in August. Rio, which began shipping iron ore in 1966, shares the region with other iron ore majors including BHP Group (BHP.AX) and Fortescue (FMG.AX).

Persons: Melanie Burton, Fortescue, Rio, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rio Tinto, BHP Group, Thomson Locations: Rio, Dampier, Port Dampier, Perth, Australia, DAMPIER, Western Australia, Rio Tinto's, darri, Rio Tinto

☆ Rio Tinto Says No Damage to Aboriginal Rock Shelter Structure From Aug. 6 Blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto has found no damage to the structure of a rock shelter at an Aboriginal heritage site in Western Australia that was impacted by blasting at its Nammuldi iron ore operations, it said after a visit over the weekend. Rio Tinto employees and representatives from the Muntulgura Guruma people visited the site last weekend, where a blast on Aug. 6 led to the fall of a Pilbara scrub tree and one square metre of rock from the overhang of a rock shelter estimated to have been inhabited over 40,000-50,000 years. "Assessments found no structural damage to the rock shelter itself, and no damage to cultural materials," Cecile Thaxter, Rio Tinto Iron Ore Vice President said in a webcast on Monday. Rio's destruction of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in 2020 prompted a global outcry, the departure of top executives and a parliamentary enquiry that recommended an overhaul of Australia's Aboriginal heritage protection laws. Nevertheless, Western Australia is set to overturn its 2021 Aboriginal cultural heritage protection laws, introduced on July 1 after the destruction of the Juukan Gorge shelters.

Persons: Cecile Thaxter, Wintawari, Rio, Melanie Burton, Sonali Paul Organizations: MELBOURNE, Rio Tinto, Tinto, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Aboriginal Corporation Locations: Western Australia, Rio

☆ Aboriginal elders suspend Rio Tinto site survey over heritage concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A combination image shows the Nammuldi rock shelter before (L) and after a mine blast by Rio Tinto in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, August 6, 2023. "Assessments found no structural damage to the rock shelter itself, and no damage to cultural materials," Cecile Thaxter, a Rio Tinto vice president, said in a webcast on Monday. A Rio Tinto spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The dispute comes as investors and automakers are increasingly scrutinising human rights and heritage protection in their assessments of Australian mines. However, Western Australia is set to overturn its 2021 Aboriginal cultural heritage protection laws, introduced on July 1, due to opposition from landowners.

Persons: Cecile Thaxter, Muntulgura, Dawn Hughes, Rio, Hughes, Melanie Burton, Sonali Paul Organizations: Rio Tinto, REUTERS, Rights, Aboriginal Corporation, Reuters, Tinto, Thomson Locations: Rio, Pilbara, Western Australia, Rio Tinto

☆ Rio’s latest rock shelter damage highlights need for Aboriginal Voice, advocates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Rio's destruction of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in 2020 prompted a global outcry, the departure of top executives and a parliamentary enquiry that recommended an overhaul of Australia's Aboriginal heritage protection laws. Reaction to the incident has been more muted compared to the outrage over the Juukan Gorge rock shelters so far. VOICE FOR HERITAGELooming over the incident is Australia’s upcoming Indigenous Voice referendum set for Oct. 14 that would create a panel to advise parliament on issues affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islands communities. "It's hard to think of a more compelling practical example of the need for an Indigenous Voice in the mining policy debate," he said. A spokesperson for the state department regulating Aboriginal heritage protection said it was in contact with Rio Tinto but it was not investigating the latest incident.

Persons: Rio, Simon Trott, Warren Entsch, Rio shouldn't, Morgan Stanley, James Fitzgerald, Jamie Lowe, WGAC, Melanie Burton, Lincoln Organizations: Rio Tinto, REUTERS Acquire, Aboriginal Corporation, ABC, Reuters, Aboriginal, Torres Straits, Australasian Centre, Corporate, Indigenous, Title, Guruma Aboriginal Corporation, Thomson Locations: Rio, Pilbara, Western Australia, MELBOURNE, Western Australia’s, Juukan

☆ Rio’s Latest Rock Shelter Damage Highlights Need for Aboriginal Voice, Advocates Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Melanie BurtonMELBOURNE (Reuters) - Damage caused to an Aboriginal rock shelter by mining giant Rio Tinto in August underscores the need for better heritage protection laws and a greater say for Indigenous groups promised in this month's Voice referendum, advocates say. Rio's destruction of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in 2020 prompted a global outcry, the departure of top executives and a parliamentary enquiry that recommended an overhaul of Australia's Aboriginal heritage protection laws. "Regrettably, it seems as though Rio's blast management plan has failed on this occasion leaving the Muntulgura Guruma People to pick up the pieces," said Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC), which represents the Muntulgura, in a statement. A spokesperson for the state department regulating Aboriginal heritage protection said it was in contact with Rio Tinto but it was not investigating the latest incident. Should the Department receive a complaint from Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation, it will act immediately to investigate."

Persons: Melanie Burton MELBOURNE, Rio, Simon Trott, Warren Entsch, Rio shouldn't, Morgan Stanley, James Fitzgerald, Jamie Lowe, WGAC, Melanie Burton, Lincoln Organizations: Rio Tinto, Aboriginal Corporation, ABC, Reuters, Aboriginal, Torres Straits, Australasian Centre, Corporate, Indigenous, Title, Guruma Aboriginal Corporation Locations: Rio, Western Australia’s, Juukan, Western Australia

☆ Western Australia to overturn 2021 Aboriginal heritage protection laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aboriginal groups' members take part in a protest against what they say is a lack of detail and consultation on new heritage protection laws, after the Rio Tinto mining group destroyed ancient rock shelters for an iron ore mine last year, in Perth, Australia August 19, 2021. Courtesy Gabrielle Timmins/Kimberley Land Council/Handout via... Read moreMELBOURNE, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Western Australia will overturn its 2021 Aboriginal cultural heritage protection laws, set out after the destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelter after community uproar, the state's premier said on Tuesday. Instead, the state government will restore and amend 1972 legislation to ensure the protection of important sites, Cook said. "These are simple and effective amendments that will prevent another Juukan Gorge from happening," he said. Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Kim Coghill, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gabrielle Timmins, Read, Rio, Cook, Melanie Burton, Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel Organizations: Kimberley Land, ., Rio Tinto, Thomson Locations: Rio Tinto, Perth, Australia, Kimberley, MELBOURNE, Western Australia, . Farmers

☆ Indigenous Australians file human rights complaint with pension funds over Santos gas projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 26 (Reuters) - A group of Indigenous Australians on Wednesday filed a human rights complaint against 20 large Australian pension funds for investing in Santos Ltd's (STO.AX) two gas projects, putting pressure on the funds over their fossil fuel investment plans. Three traditional landowners, in the complaint filed directly with the superannuation funds, alleged the funds had an "obligation to prevent adverse human rights impacts of companies in which they are invested". Commonwealth Super Corp, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Aware Super and AMP - the five largest pension funds - did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. An appeal by Santos to resume drilling on its A$3.6 billion Barossa gas project off northern Australia was rejected by the federal court in December after indigenous groups raised objections. Santos then said it would apply for fresh approvals for its biggest project in line with the court's order.

"Consequently, there is a risk that current and emerging impacts to cultural heritage are not being readily identified and/or appropriately managed," ERM said. The audit also found nearly half of Rio's assets lacked access to appropriately qualified and experienced cultural heritage expertise within the business. Cultural heritage management should not be contracted out because ownership of decisions should reside at Rio Tinto, ERM said. The global miner needed to improve and make more consistent its cultural heritage planning around water management and around closure of its operations, it added. The report followed an audit of 37 Rio Tinto assets.

Due to the tiny size of the capsule and the huge distances involved, authorities warn the chances of finding it are slim. Department of Fire and Emergency Services/APHow rare is it to lose a radioactive device? Radiation Services WA says radioactive substances are transported throughout Western Australia on a daily basis without any issues. A conveyor belt transports iron ore at the Gudai-Darri mine operated by the Rio Tinto in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, June 21, 2022. At that rate, the capsule could be radioactive for the next 300 years, said Deb from RMIT University.

☆ Rio Tinto reaches historic agreement with Juukan Gorge group
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Courtesy Gabrielle Timmins/Kimberley Land Council/Handout via REUTERS/File PhotoMELBOURNE, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Global miner Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO.AX) has reached a restitution agreement with an Aboriginal group whose rock shelters in Western Australia it destroyed two years ago for an iron ore mine, the groups said on Monday. "Nothing can compensate for or replace the loss suffered at Juukan Gorge, so this is an outcome orientated legacy to ensure something positive will come from it for years to come," PKKP Aboriginal Corp Chairperson Burchell Hayes said. The two groups are in advanced talks about a co-management of mining agreement, the PKKP added. "We fell far short of our values as a company and breached the trust placed in us by the PKKP people by allowing the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters," Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said. As well as the legacy foundation, remedy discussions have centred on ongoing rehabilitation of the rock shelters and their surrounds at Juukan Gorge, Rio said.

☆ Australia approves national plan to safeguard Aboriginal heritage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The government had accepted all but one recommendation out of the eight from last year's parliamentary inquiry into the destruction of the historically and culturally significant site at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia, Plibersek told parliament. The recommendation of whether the final responsibility for heritage protection should sit with the Indigenous affairs minister or the environment minister is still being assessed, Plibersek said. What's clear from this report is that our system is not working," Plibersek said, adding the destruction of the sacred sites were legal under current laws. The traditional owners said they were angry and disappointed that they had not been consulted about the government's response. "We have tasted the devastation and we know what needs to be done," it said, without elaborating.

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