Land management

Whether we conduct our activities on land owned by Harmony or by others, we are committed to minimising our impact, progressively rehabilitating where possible, respecting the land’s environmental and cultural value, and managing closure responsibly.

Upholding land access laws and agreements through respectful engagement

We implement responsible land management practices, and conduct our activities in a manner that recognises and is responsive to co-existing land use requirements.

In Papua New Guinea, our assets are situated on customary land owned by indigenous landowners. We have recently reviewed the Hidden Valley MoA, with revisions to environment and closure commitments to reflect updated regulatory requirements. Consultations with landowners on our application to extend the mining lease, including through the public Mine Warden’s hearing process are ongoing.

In Australia, our mining leases span commercially operating pastoral leaseholds, where the native title rights and interests of First Nations Australians are also formally recognised. We are working with the Kalkadoon People to conduct cultural heritage clearances of site preparatory works, exploration drilling and other site investigation areas. Pre-lodgement consultations have taken place with pastoral leaseholders and the Kalkadoon People regarding the environmental authority amendment.

Managing and rehabilitating our disturbed footprint across the asset lifecycle

We integrate land management considerations during the full lifecycle, from the earliest planning phases through construction and operations and, finally, closure. Through design, we seek to avoid sensitive land areas and locations that pose significant environmental and social risks. During construction and throughout operations, we actively manage land disturbance to minimise unnecessary clearing and footprint expansion. We also consider the broader impact of our activities (such as dust, noise and visual impacts) on surrounding landholders and the community.

We mitigate the risk of illegal mining by demolishing, sealing or rehabilitating decommissioned infrastructure, and construct exclusion bunds to minimise access.

We deliver concurrent and progressive rehabilitation through initiatives that:

• Align with legislative requirements, our approved environmental plans and/or closure plans
• Reflect government closure policy and guidelines
• Consider opportunities for biodiversity protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation, energy management and the green economy in our post-mining land use planning.

Returning land to a productive state post-mining

We seek to return land to a safe, stable, sustainable and productive state following mining. We determine post-mining land uses as guided by regulatory and government policy requirements, consideration and alignment with landowner aspirations, long-term safety and stability, and opportunities to enhance environmental value.

We also consider the social risks associated with transition and practical measures to promote socio-economic transition. This may include creating opportunities for local suppliers to participate in rehabilitation activities, assessing the potential to repurpose infrastructure, and through our community initiatives that support alternative livelihoods.

Our post-mining land use planning is guided by applicable regulation and policies, takes into account landowner aspirations on third-party land, and is shaped by long-term objectives for environmental safety, stability and ecological value.

Collaboration and partnerships

We collaborate with stakeholders, including regulators, host communities, landowners and suppliers, to build understandings of ongoing activities and intent and design for closure. In South Africa, we engage with the DMPR to exchange knowledge and share best practices on shaft sealing as part of our mine closure approach. We work with local service providers to deliver land rehabilitation and restoration initiatives that also equip host communities with land management skills. In Australasia, we engage with landowners to meet our land access and agreement commitments, with a focus on transparency and building and maintaining good faith relationships.