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Probe finds Sandfire caused Aboriginal heritage damage due to process failures

Sandfire Resources said on Wednesday an external probe had actually discovered the miner damaged Aboriginal cultural heritage at a copper mine in Western Australia due to lack of knowledge and process failings.

Damage to artefact scatters at the Monty copper mine, northeast of Perth, happened in 2017 and 2018 due to a series of process failures during the construction of a satellite mine. Nevertheless, it concerned the business's attention just in September 2023.

Sandfire's failure to secure the artefact scatters and to quickly escalate the problem when identified is undesirable, Sandfire Chair John Richards said in a statement.

A group of traditional owners, the Yugunga-Nya, said in a. statement the report revealed Sandfire's then management, just. didn't care about Aboriginal heritage, while disputing the. report's conclusion that the damage was unintended.

It likewise stated it eagerly anticipated collaborating with. Sandfire's new management team, led by Brendan Harris, to. address heritage matters.

Shares of the business slipped as much as 5.6% to A$ 8.86 by. 0029 GMT, amidst a more comprehensive weakness in mining stocks.

The damage, which was first flagged by the Australian miner. in November last year, had actually led the Yugunga-Nya to demand the. executive group to step down after failures to resolve the. situation.

Aboriginal heritage security has actually entered into the spotlight. because Rio Tinto destroyed rock shelters in Western. Australia's Juukan Canyon in 2020 that showed evidence of human. habitation extending back into the last Glacial epoch.

The findings of the probe verified that Sandfire's then. executive management failed to specify line responsibility for. heritage or make sure steps were in place to handle heritage. better within the organisation.

Sandfire recognises the magnitude of these findings and has. devoted to a substantial program of work created to make sure. the defense of cultural heritage throughout all of its. operations, Richards said.

A draft of the examination has actually been shared with the. Yugunga-Nya, the company stated.

(source: Reuters)