Fortescue and Aboriginal group form mining pact

Australian iron ore group Fortescue Metals Group has reached a deal with the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC) for a co-management framework to oversee the development of new mines at the miner's Solomon Hub operations in Western Australia.

This comes as part of the latest development between Australian mining giants and the traditional owners of the land in the wake of Rio Tinto's blasting of the 46,000-year-old cave complex at Juukan Gorge last May.

Read more: Rio Tinto still to pay traditional owners of Juukan Gorge

The joint venture will see new mines developed at the East and West Queens deposits in Eastern Guruma land.

Expected to operate for around 10 years, the development will see an investment of around AU$500 million (€264.5 million) - by far the largest ever sum awarded to an Aboriginal group.

In addition, a working group will collaborate on aspects of a mine's development cycle, from scouting and ensuring heritage and cultural protection and ensuring environmental approvals, resource drilling and ming planning to full operations and mine rehabilitation - the restoration of post-mined land to its intended purpose.

"Working collaboratively, we will ensure that Eastern Guruma people are active participants in the future development of mines on our country, enabling deeper consultation around the protection of culturally significant sites while building a better future for our people,” Wintawari Chair Glen Camille said in a statement.

“The establishment of this new co-management joint venture represents the next step in our journey with Fortescue," he added.

Fortescue's CEO Elizabeth Gaines said the deal strengthens the miner's relationship with the traditional owners, stating the company was "proud of its long-standing relationship" with the WGAC.

"We are confident that this new collaborative framework will strengthen our ties with the Eastern Guruma People, through the unique opportunity to have a seat at the table to share cultural knowledge and guide the growth of Fortescue’s operations on their country," she added.

Australia's mining sector has been looking at operating closely with traditional owners following the blasting of Juukan Gorge, which caused public outrage both at home and abroad.

Read more: Rio Tinto's destruction of Juukan Gorge "inexcusable" say Australian lawmakers

The disaster led to a parliamentary inquiry into Rio Tinto, which is still ongoing, and cost three major executives their jobs and led to a corporate reshuffling.

The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation also looked to get a seat at the table for its mining operations.

The mining giant's new CEO has revealed the company will be looking at working more closely with the traditional owners to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

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