Rio Tinto seeks to almost double bauxite output from Queensland mine

Rio Tinto Group is conducting early works and final studies to potentially almost double bauxite production from its Amrun project in far north Queensland by 2029.

The world’s second-biggest miner is seeking to develop a new project called Kangwinan, it said Thursday. Its output would replace that of the Andoom and Gove mines, which are both expected to close by the end of this decade.

The expansion would increase annual bauxite production capacity from Rio’s Weipa Southern operations by as much as 20 million tons from the current 23 million tons, and also expand export capacity through the Amrun port. A final investment decision is due next year.

Rio’s bauxite production in the first quarter rose 12% from the year before. Some of the output from Weipa Southern is exported to customers in China, while some is refined into alumina at Gladstone in Queensland, and then turned into aluminum at smelters around Australia.

(By Jason Scott)

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