11 Sep 2008

Hopes more governments will join Norway in pulling out of mining giant over pollution worries

7:55 pm on 11 September 2008

The Australian NGO, the Mineral Policy Institute, has welcomed the Norwegian Government's decision to cut its links with the multi national mining company, Rio Tinto, over concerns about the Grasberg mine in Papua in Indonesia.

Norway's Sovereign Wealth Fund has sold its shares after failing to persuade Rio Tinto to improve operations at the gold and copper mine.

There have been reports of serious environmental pollution and human rights abuses at the mine.

The Mineral Policy Institute's executive director, Techa Beaumont, says she hopes other governments will follow suit.

"The decision of the Norwegian pension fund is a welcome outcome particularly in Rio Tinto's ongoing involvement in the Freeport mine, Grasberg mine, in Papua and the practices at that mine of dumping directly into the river system."