A class action lawsuit against Rio Tinto is scheduled for its first hearing on October 10 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The lawsuit addresses historical environmental and social damages linked to the Bougainville copper mine, which Rio Tinto operated during the 1970s and 1980s.
Matthew Mennilli, a partner at the Sydney-based law firm Morris Mennilli, stated, “We are committed to advancing the action against Rio Tinto and BCL on behalf of the class,” emphasizing the importance of empowering claimants whose voices have been overlooked for years.
Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL), which operated the Panguna mine with Rio Tinto holding a majority stake, ceased operations in 1989 amid escalating disputes that led to a decade-long civil war. A spokesperson for Rio Tinto confirmed receipt of the class action and indicated that the company is reviewing the claim details but could not comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
In 2016, Rio Tinto transferred its 53.8% stake in BCL to the Autonomous Bougainville government and the Papua New Guinea government without compensation. In 2022, the company began assessing the mine’s legacy by hiring an independent group to evaluate the impact and consult on future steps, with a report expected this year.
Class actions are becoming a common avenue for affected communities seeking compensation from resource companies for environmental damage. In contrast to larger lawsuits, such as the one involving over 720,000 Brazilians suing BHP and Vale for the Mariana dam collapse, the class action against Rio Tinto is smaller, comprising mainly villagers from Bougainville. Since its filing in May, the class has grown to 3,000 claimants, with an additional 1,500 joining, all seeking compensation for the historical mismanagement of the Panguna Copper Mine, which they claim caused extensive environmental and social harm.