Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has secured support from Nyangumarta Traditional Owners to develop its proposed Winu copper-gold mine in Western Australia, marking a key step towards advancing one of the miner’s most important near-term growth projects.
The mining giant announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) covering the development of Winu on Nyangumarta Country.
Rio describes the agreement as a “significant milestone” in its long-term partnership with the Nyangumarta People and the development of the project.
Building on a Project Planning Agreement signed in 2023, the co-designed agreement establishes how Rio and the Nyangumarta People will work together as Winu progresses.
It also sets out how Nyangumarta knowledge, priorities, and perspectives will be incorporated into project planning and future activities, including measures to avoid and minimise potential impacts on the environment and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
First mine on Nyangumarta Country
If approved, Winu is expected to become the first mine developed on Nyangumarta Country, with Rio saying the project could create new opportunities for training, employment, and local business participation.
Nyangumarta Elder Margaret (Nyaparu) Rose says the decision followed more than five years of discussions and careful consideration.
“We’ve spent more than five years at the table with Nyangumarta People and Rio Tinto to make sure every voice is heard and everyone has all the information they need to make an informed decision,” Rose says.
Rio discovered mineralisation at Winu in 2017 and has since worked with Traditional Owners and other stakeholders on plans for a greenfield copper–gold operation.
Located in WA’s Great Sandy Desert, around 300km south of Broome, Winu is Rio’s most advanced near-term greenfield copper project and forms an important part of its strategy to expand copper production.
First copper by 2030
The project is being developed through a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining (TYO:5713).
Under the arrangement, Rio owns 70% of Winu and serves as project developer and operator, while Sumitomo holds the remaining 30%.
Rio Tinto CEO Katie Jackson says the agreement represents another important step towards bringing the project into production.
“The signing of this agreement is an important step forward in advancing Winu towards first copper by 2030,” Jackson says.
Earlier this week, Rio also signed a new, modernised agreement to strengthen its ties with the Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation.
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group that focuses on finding, mining, and processing Earth’s mineral resources.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Image: Rio Tinto
