Rio Tinto PLC (LSE:RIO) has published its first report on progress in improving Communities and Social Performance (CSP) practices, following the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters in Western Australia.
The rock shelters, which were destroyed during mining operations last year, showed human habitation dating back 46,000 years.
“As part of efforts to increase transparency in its approach to cultural heritage protection, Rio Tinto has engaged with investors to develop reporting that details the company's work to improve its CSP practices and outcomes,” the mining group said.
In the CSP report, Rio said it had begun agreement modernisation discussions with ten Pilbara Traditional Owner groups and had carried out a detailed review of heritage sites to ensure there are no other sites of exceptional cultural significance within the company's existing mine plans.
Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said: "We are working hard to rebuild trust and meaningful relationships with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people and other Traditional Owners across Australia. We understand this will take time and consistent effort, but our absolute focus is on improving our engagement with Indigenous Peoples and host communities so that we can better understand their priorities and concerns, minimise our impacts, and responsibly manage cultural heritage.”
"We know that we cannot change the past. But we can continue to seek out, listen to and respect different voices and perspectives, to ensure that in the future, cultural heritage sites of significance are treated with the care they deserve."