[Response to the ABC article]

November 4, 2024

Rio Tinto response to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Rio Tinto’s focus remains on constructive engagement and meaningful action with local stakeholders through the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment. Rio Tinto recognises the importance of understanding and addressing the environmental, and directly connected social and human rights impacts that have occurred since mining operations ceased abruptly in 1989 due to civil war.

Rio Tinto's Ongoing Commitments

• Independent Legacy Impact Assessment: Since 2022, Rio Tinto has been actively participating in an independent assessment of the Panguna Mine's legacy impacts. This comprehensive evaluation is being undertaken by an independent engineering consultant and is overseen by a diverse committee including representatives from local communities, BCL, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and the Human Rights Law Centre. Rio Tinto awaits the final report later this year and is committed to engaging with all parties on the next steps.
• Infrastructure Safety: In August 2024, Rio Tinto, ABG and BCL signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address concerns around future risks of ageing infrastructure as identified by the independent engineering consultant. The primary objectives are to mitigate potential hazards and enhance community safety. To achieve these goals, the parties have scheduled work on these structures to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Water and Sanitation: In conjunction with the Legacy Impact Assessment and efforts to address ageing infrastructure, Rio Tinto is supporting a water and sanitation project in Central Bougainville, in cooperation with the ABG.
• Collective remedy: Rio Tinto is seeking to partner with key stakeholders, such as the ABG and BCL, to design and implement a remedy framework to respond to the impacts identified through the Independent Legacy Impact Assessment. This will include targeted engagement with impacted stakeholders, such as representatives from communities in the river tailings area, to ensure community concerns are incorporated into the remedy framework.

For more information, visit https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/trending-topics/panguna-mine