Campaigners accuse BHP of dodging corporate accountability

Community representatives affected by Mariana dam disaster outside Royal Courts of Justice in London. Image: Brazil Matters UK

With 33 mining operations in 15 countries, and profits from operations now exceeding $31 billion, BHP is one of the largest mining companies in the world. It is also a frequent target of environmental, human rights and civil society campaigners due to its business practices and history of broken promises. Now campaigners claim that BHP is attempting to dodge accountability from activists and its own shareholders by making its Annual General Meeting inaccessible to anyone who might raise a critical voice.

Historically, BHP held its shareholder meetings in London as well as in Australia. These meetings have been a focal point of activity for dissident shareholders and groups critical of BHP. They have often seen visiting members of mining-affected communities acting as proxies for shareholders in order to bring their concerns directly to BHP executives. However, in January 2022 it was announced that BHP would end its dual listing and no longer hold AMGs in London. This year, the BHP shareholders' meeting will be held in the city of Perth, Australia, on November 10 at 10 am local time (2am UK time). London Mining Network believes this decision was not purely financial but designed to reduce opportunities for critical opinions to be heard and to disempower mining-affected communities outside Australia, especially in Latin America, who have few avenues to communicate with company decision-makers.

London Mining Network Co-ordinator Richard Solly said: "The executives at BHP know full well that differences in time zone and the location of the meeting will severely limit the ability of shareholders in the UK and of representatives of communities harmed by its operations, especially in Latin America, to participate in any meaningful way. This is a real step back in terms of corporate accountability and should cause concern for any investors who value transparency."

Communities affected by BHP operations in Latin America are preparing to submit questions to the AGM. The questions will cover:

- The ongoing issues in Brazil following the catastrophic tailings dam failure at the Samarco mine which killed 19 people and destroyed around 700 homes. The 7th anniversary of the dam collapse just passed on 5 November and there is a court case coming up which could cost BHP £5 billion.

- The irreparable damage from mass water extraction at BHP's Escondida copper mine in the Atacama Desert of Chile has severely impacted on the Salar de Punta Negra ecosystem.

- Industrial relations issues and environmental contamination allegations from BHPs Antamina copper mine in Peru. The community has detailed concerns about the impact on water dependent ecosystems through over extraction of water and through the contamination with heavy metals.

- The divestment from the Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia which has largely been seen as a strategic move to avoid rehabilitation responsibilities to the environment and the displaced communities who suffered forced evictions over decade.

London Mining Network (LMN) is an alliance of human rights, environmental and solidarity groups. We work together to support communities harmed by London-based and financed mining companies.