Rio Tinto yet to resolve Yandicoogina mine royalty dispute – The Australian

Rio Tinto Group has yet to settle A$400 million in unpaid royalties to Gumala Aboriginal Corp., or GAC, over the Yandicoogina iron ore mine in Western Australia, The Australian reported Jan. 31.

The miner is in talks with GAC, the traditional owners of the mine area, to resolve the matter, according to the report, which cited a company spokesman.

The dispute began in 2020 after the company identified over A$40 million in underpayments in the royalty deal with the traditional owners, The Australian wrote.

A separate audit on behalf of GAC however found that the underpayments could have been worth up to A$400 million under the land use deal, which will mark its 25th year in March.

Rio Tinto offered to settle the dispute with A$150 million, but GAC refused, according to the report.