Rio leading tailings transparency

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has released detailed information on its global tailings facilities in alignment with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

The disclosure includes updated information on 14 of the company’s tailings facilities rated very high or extreme consequence under GISTM classification, based on the highest potential consequences in the extremely unlikely event of a failure — previously disclosed in 2023 — as well as new information on a further 84 facilities rated low, high or significant.

Rio Tinto chief technical officer Mark Davies says managing tailings responsibly is essential for keeping people, communities and the environment safe from harm and is fundamental to maintaining the company’s social licence.

“We are proud to share our management practices transparently and to partner with local communities, our industry peers and regulators to drive transformative improvements in tailings management,” he said.

In 2016, the company joined the Tailings Working Committee convened by the ICMM, which conducted a tailings management review of its member companies.

Rio’s work helped inform the ICMM’s 2016 Tailings Governance Framework Position Statement, including the six elements of tailings facility governance.

The GISTM was developed by the Global Tailings Review, a multi-disciplinary expert panel co-convened by the ICMM, PRI and UNEP, following the Brumadinho tailings disaster in January 2019.

Released in 2020, the GISTM focuses tailings management practices on the prevention of tailings facility failures, reducing the social and environmental impacts of tailings facilities and improving engagement and transparency on tailings with local communities.

In July 2021, Rio Tinto released its tailings policy in response, reinforcing its commitment to proactive, safe and sustainable tailings management.

“Rio Tinto has committed to implementing the GISTM at all our tailings facilities and we have been working hard over the past five years to bring these into conformance,” Mr Davies said.

“We have made significant progress and have detailed plans in place to complete the few outstanding items.”