Rio Tinto investors seeking more Indigenous engagement – Sydney Morning Herald

U.K. pension fund coalition Local Authority Pension Fund Forum raised concerns with Rio Tinto about inadequate integration of Indigenous voices in the mining company's decisions about the Resolution copper-gold development in Arizona, The Sydney Morning Herald reported March 9.

Earlier in March, the U.S. Agriculture Department directed the rescission of the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision for a land exchange required for the Resolution project. The exchange would have allowed development within Oak Flat, a site that is sacred to nearby tribes including the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Rio Tinto owns a 55% interest in the joint venture, and BHP Group holds the remaining 45% stake. Even before the land exchange was nulled, executives were warning investors that there could be substantive delays.

Doug McMurdo, chair of the pension fund coalition, said member funds are seeking improved engagement by Rio Tinto with First Nations across its global operations, backed by appropriately credentialed board and management personnel. McMurdo said he is in regular contact with Rio Tinto and the Resolution Copper subsidiary about the issue.

Australian shareholders are also seeking answers from Rio Tinto and BHP about their engagement with the San Carlos Apache, according to the report.

Rio Tinto drew public backlash in 2020 after it was revealed that the company had blasted a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site during an expansion of its Brockman 4 iron ore mine in Western Australia. CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques agreed to step down in September 2020, and the mining company recently said Chairman Simon Thompson will not seek reelection to the board in 2022.