Rio Tinto has released updated information about its global tailings facilities, aligning with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). The company’s latest disclosure covers 14 tailings facilities previously rated as Very High or Extreme consequence under GISTM classifications and adds new details for 84 additional facilities rated Low, High, or Significant.
Mark Davies, Rio Tinto Chief Technical Officer, stated: “Managing tailings responsibly is essential for keeping people, communities and the environment safe from harm and is fundamental to maintaining our 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.
“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. We have made significant progress and have detailed plans in place to complete the few outstanding items.”
The company’s efforts reflect a broader industry move toward improved safety standards following several high-profile dam failures in recent years. The GISTM was developed by an independent panel convened by industry associations after such incidents highlighted risks associated with tailings storage. Information about Rio Tinto’s facilities and their progress toward meeting GISTM requirements can be found through an interactive map on their website at www.riotinto.com/tailings.
Further details are available in the source version of this announcement on Business Wire: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250805007388/en/
