In 2008, Rio Tinto Coal Australia produced more than 22.3 Mt of thermal and semi-soft coking coal, and 7.4 Mt of hard coking coal. That year, business improvement projects delivered A$655 million in savings and the group contributed net earnings of $1.7 billion to Rio Tinto, a 600% increase on 2007. It also strongly contributed to the national economy, economies of Queensland and New South Wales as well as communities where it operates.
Rio Tinto Coal Australia recorded an all injury frequency rate of 0.76 injuries per 200,000 hours worked – its lowest since 2003, when current record keeping was introduced.
In 2008, 27% of the new Clermont mine’s workforce was female, compared to 11% in the mining industry. The mine’s proactive recruitment won the 2009 Queensland Resource Council’s Resources Award for Women – Best Company Initiative.
In environmental management, the group’s sites rehabilitated more than 260 ha of land in Queensland and New South Wales, surpassing its voluntary rehabilitation targets by 27 ha. Overall, it used significantly less freshwater than targeted.
In 2008, it continued working with our local communities. Highlights included a socio-economic baseline study for the Bowen Basin in Queensland, and incorporating feedback from a Hunter Valley study to guide future consultation and communication.
The energy management programme reduced emissions by 38,000 t of CO2 equivalents through a range of energy efficiency programmes across the sites.