Up to an additional 20 million tonnes of bauxite could start being extracted from Rio Tinto’s Amrun mine by 2029 if a bold expansion project gets the green light. Photo: Supplied.
Increased bauxite production of up to 20 million tonnes (Mt) each year and the creation of an estimated 800 construction jobs are on the cards if an expansion plan unveiled by Rio Tinto on 22 May is given the green light.
The mining giant has pulled back the curtain on what it has called the Kangwinan project, an answer to the planned closure of its Andoom mine by the end of the decade.
Named at the request of the Wik Waya Traditional Owners, Kangwinan is a protector of all sacred, ceremonial and female protocols of the tribe, and is also the name of the black female crow, a totem of the Wik Waya people.
The project will involve building a new mine and expanding the existing port to almost double bauxite production from Rio Tinto’s Weipa southern operations, where Amrun is located.
If approved, the project will establish a mining operation 15 kilometres south-east of Amrun, which was opened in 2018.
At full capacity, Rio Tinto said it expected the expansion would boost Weipa south operation bauxite production by up to 20Mt annually, in addition to the 23Mt currently mined, effectively replacing the tonnages lost when Andoom and Gove are mothballed in the next five years.
Weipa general manager Steve Dunstone said the project would play a vital role in securing the western Cape York township’s economic future.
“This announcement is an important step to securing the future of our Weipa operations, and the benefits that mining brings to communities in this region,” he told Cape York Weekly.
“We have a proud 60-year history as a major contributor to the local economy, and this announcement further underlines our commitment to the region, our Traditional Owner partners, and the local community in Weipa for many years to come.”
News of the ambitious project came on the same day it was announced chief executive Jakob Stausholm, who has been in the role since 2021, would step away from the company’s top job later in the year.
Pacific operations aluminium managing director Armando Torres echoed Mr Dunstone’s sentiment and said the plan put Cape York at the forefront of Rio Tinto’s broader operation.
“This feasibility study will explore a new bauxite operation at our Weipa Operations and represents a strong vote of confidence in the world-class bauxite deposits on the western Cape York Peninsula, our bauxite operations, and the local community,” he said.
“It’s an important step toward securing the long-term future of our operations at Cape York, and the benefits that mining brings to communities in the region, while ensuring security of supply to our Australian refineries and to our customers.”
The mining giant said the project would generate “more than 800 jobs in construction, and would maintain the workforce currently employed at Weipa’s mines slated for closure”.
The approved early works include building a 250-room camp at Amrun Village to house construction workers and developing an initial access road to Kangwinan.
A final investment decision is due in 2026, subject to cultural heritage consultation with Traditional Owners, completing engineering, cultural heritage and environment studies, as well as securing regulatory approvals.
Rio Tinto says the Kangwinan project will be located south-east of the mining giant’s current Amrun operation. Photo: Supplied.
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