JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals has lodged an appeal against a Federal Court ruling in favour of an indigenous Aboriginal group’s claims over land that it uses to mine in the Pilbara.
Fortescue CEO Nev Power said on Monday that the group welcomed the recognition of the Yindjibarndi native title, but added that the Federal Court decision relating to the concept of exclusive possession had potentially wide ranging implications for new investment in resources.
The court ruled in July that the Yindjibarndi people had exclusive native title rights over land covering Fortescue’s Solomon mining hub. At the time of the ruling, Yindjibarndi leader Michael Woodley had said that they would seek compensation from Fortescue.
Power said that the Federal Court ruling had no impact on the current or future operations or mining tenure at the Solomon Hub and added that the company did not anticipate any material financial impact to the business.