The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto have signed a Co-Management Agreement to support a lasting and trusted partnership.

The agreement is the overarching framework for Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations on PKKP Country and formalises how they engage on proposals affecting heritage and social surroundings throughout the mine lifecycle.

It will ensure knowledge-sharing and joint design is at the centre of Rio Tinto’s operations on PKKP Country, so significant heritage is preserved and co-managed.

Pinikura Traditional Owner and Chairperson of PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Terry Drage said: “The effect of this agreement is that PKKP Traditional Owners will receive certainty that our important places on Country will be protected from mining, while at the same time Rio Tinto will receive certainty around where they can develop much earlier in the mine cycle.

“Ultimately, this is good for us as Traditional Owners, and it is good for business.”

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said: “The destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters on the 24th of May 2020 brought immeasurable pain to the PKKP and profoundly changed our company.

“Our actions were wrong. We failed to uphold our company values, and our systems and processes were inadequate. Simply put, it should never have happened, and for that we will forever be sorry.

“Through the open and gracious sharing of knowledge and experiences, the PKKP have helped to shape a renewed approach to managing cultural heritage protection and mining activities.”

The agreement is designed to provide certainty to the PKKP for the protection and management of their heritage. It also gives Rio Tinto certainty for its operations and development.

The broader terms of the agreement were finalised and signed last month, ahead of the five-year anniversary of the tragic destruction of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge.

The Co-Management Agreement reinforces Rio Tinto’s commitment to PKKP to continue to work together on the rehabilitation of the Juukan Gorge area, focusing a shared effort to rehabilitate and preserve its cultural heritage.

Note to editors:
The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation's media release on the Co-Management Agreement is available here. Broadcast-quality vision and interviews with PKKP leaders Burchell Hayes, Terry Drage, Dr Jordan Ralph and Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott, as well as photographs, are available for download here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250601064423/en/

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations,
United Kingdom
Matthew Klar
M +44 7796 630 637
David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations,
Australia
Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739
Rachel Pupazzoni
M +61 438 875 469
Michelle Lee
M +61 458 609 322

Media Relations,
Canada
Simon Letendre
M +1 514 796 4973
Malika Cherry
M +1 418 592 7293
Vanessa Damha
M +1 514 715 2152

Media Relations,
US
Jesse Riseborough
M +1 202 394 9480

Investor Relations,
United Kingdom
David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978
Laura Brooks
M +44 7826 942 797
Wei Wei Hu
M +44 7825 907 230

Investor Relations,
Australia
Tom Gallop
M +61 439 353 948
Phoebe Lee
M +61 413 557 780

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 43, 120 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: General

Logo

Tags

More Like This

Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto sign updated Native Title Agreement

Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto sign Interim Modernised Agreement

Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto sign Interim Modernised Agreement

Rio Tinto invests $8 million in Pilbara conservation land management

Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto sign milestone agreement for Winu Project

Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Metal Mining sign Definitive Agreement for Winu Project joint venture

Rio Tinto and BHP explore collaboration to mine up to 200 million tonnes of Pilbara iron ore

Rio Tinto to manage the Ranger Rehabilitation Project for ERA