Amrun Mine Ships First Bauxite


More than 80,000 mt were loaded onto the RTM Weipa for delivery to Rio Tinto’s Yarwun
alumina refinery.
Rio Tinto’s new Amrun bauxite mine on the Cape York peninsula in north Queensland shipped its first bauxite in early December 2018, six weeks ahead of schedule. The $1.9 billion project will replace production from the company’s depleting East Weipa mine and increase its annual bauxite exports by around 10 million metric tons per year (mt/y). At full production, Amrun will have the capacity to produce 22.8 million mt/y.

Amrun development included construction of the bauxite mine and associated processing and port facilities on the Cape York peninsula. Production and shipping will ramp up during the first half of 2019, with expectations that full production will be achieved by the end of the year. The project’s design provides options for future expansion to 50 million mt/y.

“Bringing Amrun online further strengthens our position as a leading supplier in the seaborne market,” Rio Tinto Aluminum Chief Executive Alf Barrios said. “We have the largest bauxite resources in the industry and are geographically well-positioned to supply China’s significant future import needs, as well as supporting our refinery and smelting operations in Australia and New Zealand.” “The Amrun mine will ensure generational jobs for Queenslanders and build significantly on our 55-year history on the Western Cape.”

As featured in Womp 2019 Vol 01 - www.womp-int.com