RIO Tinto has struck an iron ore mining deal with Aboriginal groups of the Pilbara region after five years of sensitive negotiations.
The agreement will give the miner access to almost 100,000sqkm of the area’s North-West.
The company says it expects the agreement to be sealed in April 2009.
The miner has agreed to pay compensation and offer locals jobs and training. It has also promised to protect culturally significant places, and perform post-mining rehabilitation of the land.
The seven affected Aboriginal groups are compiling evidence for a joint native title claim for the land. The Federal Government allocated a $5.5m injection in 2008 to speed up the resolution of claims as mining ramps up throughout Pilbara.
Add a comment