BHP bosses defend company's decision to stay in gas and oil 'for the medium term'

Chairman Ken MacKenzie tells AGM that fossil fuels will be part of the energy mix for decades

BHP management has batted away shareholder criticism of the miner's intention to continue investing in gas despite claiming it will dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.

Speaking at BHP's Australian annual meeting on Wednesday evening, chairman Ken MacKenzie also addressed the fallout from rival Rio Tinto's decision to blow up 46,000-year-old rock shelters at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara.