Land use and footprint
Rio Tinto's footprint includes all land disturbed for mining, processing and related activities, including rehabilitated land. Rio Tinto's footprint at the end of 2005 was 1,459 square kilometres:
- Seventy four per cent of the footprint is currently disturbed for mining, processing and related activities.
- Twenty six per cent of the footprint has been rehabilitated.
- Sixty five per cent of the Group's footprint is in Australia/New Zealand, where 40 per cent of operations are located.
- Twenty six per cent is in North America where 32 per cent of operations are located.
The footprint has increased by 28 square kilometres since 2004.
Rio Tinto's footprint at the end of 2005
At the end of 2005, 15 operations contributed 66 per cent of Rio Tinto's footprint. Weipa remains the largest contributor to the footprint area in 2005 (12 per cent or 172 square kilometres), with Dampier, Port Hedland, Resource Geology and Kennecott Utah Copper the next largest contributors. These five operations contribute 39 per cent of Rio Tinto's total footprint.
Forty per cent of the area currently disturbed for mining is used for activities which could reasonably be expected to remain for the life of the operation, ie plant, smelters, and other buildings, road and transport facilities and salt ponds. As a result, these areas are unlikely to be rehabilitated until the respective operations have been closed.
As part of the land management process, operations are required to plan and provide financially for closure. The provision at the end of 2005 was US$2.7 billion. This is necessary to minimise the long term impacts on the environment, create alternative uses for land and make a positive contribution to community life in surrounding areas.
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