Rio Tinto and Nyangumarta People peach milestone agreement for Winu copper-gold project

Rio Tinto and the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation have signed a landmark Project Agreement for the proposed Winu copper-gold mine in Western Australia, marking an important step toward development of one of Rio Tinto’s most advanced copper growth projects. The agreement provides the consent of the Nyangumarta People for the proposed mine and associated infrastructure on Nyangumarta Country. It builds on a Project Planning Agreement signed in 2023 and follows more than five years of engagement between the parties.

Winu moves closer to development

Located in the Great sandy desert, approximately 300 km south of Broome, Winu is Rio Tinto’s most advanced near-term greenfield copper project and forms an important part of its strategy to expand copper production. Rio Tinto holds a 70% interest in the project and will develop and operate Winu, while Sumitomo Metal Mining holds the remaining 30%. The project remains subject to regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.

Rio Tinto Copper Chief Executive Katie Jackson described the agreement as “an important step forward in advancing Winu towards first copper by 2030.” The project has already progressed into feasibility study, following completion of a pre-feasibility study based on an initial processing capacity of up to 10 Mtpa.

Mining development built around partnership

For the Nyangumarta People, Winu could become the first mine developed on their Country, creating potential pathways into employment, training and local business participation. Nyangumarta Elder Charlie Wright stressed that the agreement provides something equally important: a continuing role in how the project develops. “This agreement gives Nyangumarta People a seat at the table for the life of the project to ensure our culture, heritage, and Country is respected.”

That principle may prove as important as the copper itself. Major mining projects increasingly depend not only on resource quality, engineering and capital, but also on durable relationships with Traditional Owners and communities throughout the mine lifecycle. For Winu, the agreement removes an important development hurdle while establishing the framework for that relationship. The next milestones will be completion of feasibility work, regulatory approvals and ultimately a final investment decision, with first copper targeted for 2030.