Rio Tinto shareholders query Freeport activities: Report

Rio Tinto has been asked to better consider the needs of the people who live near the Freeport mine in the province of Papua, ABCNews reported.

The issue of its gold mine at Freeport has been raised several times by shareholders at its annual general meeting in Melbourne Thursday.

Questions have been asked about Rio Tinto's commitment to environmental best practice and the dumping of tailings into a river.

One speaker, who identified himself as a refugee from the Indonesian province of West Papua, made an impassioned plea asking Rio Tinto if the tribes living around the mine are being properly looked after.

Rio Tinto chairman Paul Skinner told shareholders the company makes a considerable effort to balance its social, economic and environmental practices.

But he said the company was not in a position to influence the Indonesian Government's policy.

Rio Tinto has economic interest in Freeport's Grasberg mine, which is one of the world's largest copper and gold mining complex.(*)