Response to Energy Resources of Australia’s independent valuation report

MELBOURNE--()--Rio Tinto notes the independent valuation report released by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) on 26 September 2022, to determine a valuation of the company as it seeks to address material cost and schedule overruns on the critical Ranger rehabilitation project in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Rio Tinto understands the long-term opposition the Traditional Owners, the Mirarr People, have to further mining development on their country and acknowledges the statement of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation on 28 September 2022 setting out their views of the independent valuation report and its failure to give due weight to their consistent and inter-generational opposition to further uranium mining on their country.

Rio Tinto remains committed to ensuring the rehabilitation is completed to a standard that will establish an environment similar to the adjacent Kakadu National Park and continues to provide technical support to the project. The company has always believed that the rehabilitation of Ranger can be successfully achieved in a way that is consistent with the wishes of the Mirarr People and have sought to work constructively with ERA’s Independent Board Committee (IBC) in its efforts to find a funding solution to meet ERA’s rehabilitation obligations.

Rio Tinto’s consistent position is that the terms of any ERA funding solution should reflect fair value having regard to:

  • the material cost overruns and interim funding requirements;
  • funds raised will be dedicated strictly to rehabilitation and not any future development; and
  • the Traditional Owners, the Mirarr People’s consistently publicly stated opposition to developing the Jabiluka uranium deposit.

In July 2022, when the ERA IBC failed to obtain major shareholder support for its proposed offer terms, Rio Tinto offered to subscribe for its full pro-rata entitlement at an offer price that reflects Rio Tinto’s view of fair value. This offer to ERA remains.

In Rio Tinto’s view, the independent valuation report prepared by Grant Thornton and adopted by the IBC to help set the price for a future entitlement offer, fails to appropriately recognise the long-standing opposition of the Mirarr People to further uranium mining on their country. Rio Tinto understands that this causes distress for the Mirarr elders and community.

Rio Tinto chief executive Australia Kellie Parker said “We are actively seeking to reflect the wishes of the Mirarr People in our approach to the funding of ERA’s rehabilitation commitment having long understood their opposition to further mining on their country.

“We believe the successful rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area, which is of critical importance to the Mirarr People, Rio Tinto and ERA can be achieved in a way that is consistent with the Mirarr People’s wishes. This remains our utmost priority and commitment.

“We are again asking the ERA IBC to urgently develop a workable plan to fund the increased rehabilitation costs.”

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.

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Media Relations, Americas

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Malika Cherry
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Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
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Matt Chambers
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Jesse Riseborough
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Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop
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Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

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

Category: ERA

Contacts

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

Media Relations, UK


Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

Matthew Klar
M+ 44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Simon Letendre
M +514 796 4973

Malika Cherry
M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop
M +61 439 353 948

Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

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

Category: ERA