The financial results were the first to be unveiled by new chief executive Jakob Stausholm after replacing former CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques, who resigned amid outrage over the miner’s decision to blast through culturally significant Aboriginal rock shelters in Western Australia’s Pilbara.
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“It has been an extraordinary year,” Mr Stausholm said. But he added: “Our successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strong safety performance were overshadowed by the tragic events at the Juukan Gorge, which should never have happened.”
Although legally sanctioned, the blast went against the wishes of the traditional owners, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people, who were left devastated and said they were not aware of Rio’s plans to destroy the site until it was too late for the explosive charges to be removed. Rio has apologised and conceded multiple failures in its engagement with the PKKP in the lead-up to the blast in May last year.
Mr Stausholm has indicated that rebuilding trust with traditional owners is one of his top priorities, and has recently travelled to the Pilbara to meet with the PKKP and “express my deep regret about the damage we caused”.
