Moller, M, Flugge, R & Murphy, D 2006, 'Pilbara Iron’s Approach to Sustainable Development During Mine Closure ⎯ The Case Study of Greater Tom Price and Pannawonica Operations', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2006: Proceedings of the First International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 237-246, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/605_16
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/605_16_Moller/)
Abstract: Pilbara Iron (PI) operates and maintains iron ore mining, rail and export facilities in the Pilbara Region of 
Western Australia on behalf of Hamersley Iron Pty Limited (Hamersley) and Robe River Iron Associates 
(Robe).   
As members of the Rio Tinto Group, PI, Hamersley and Robe operate in accordance with corporate policies 
and directives.  As a part of a sustainable development approach to business and to comply with the revised 
Rio Tinto Closure Standard (the Standard) (RT, 2004) and associated documentation, PI undertook a series 
of closure planning studies during 2005 to build on previous closure planning activities previously 
undertaken over a ten-year period.   
The objective of these studies was to undertake specific closure planning activities in accordance with the 
Standard for the eventual closure of PI’s facilities and operations at Tom Price and Mesa J, referred to as the 
Greater Tom Price and Pannawonica Operations (GTP&PO).   
The specific intent of the Standard is: 
“To ensure that Rio Tinto managed activities are left in a condition which minimises adverse 
impacts on the human and natural environment, and that a legacy remains which makes a positive 
contribution to sustainable development.” 
Through implementation of the Standard, Rio Tinto seeks to influence the design, development, operation 
and closure of all of its operations to ensure the optimisation of post-closure outcomes in terms of 
environmental, economic and social (EES) development needs and expectations.