Rio Tinto says its 7 August announcement of a $275 million investment in its Noman Creek access project “will maintain jobs in the region through to at least the middle of this century”. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Rio Tinto has announced it has approved an investment of about $275 million ($US 180m) to commence work on the Norman Creek access project at its Amrun bauxite mine on western Cape York.
The project will enable mining of the Norman Creek region of Amrun, which holds approximately half of the currently declared Amrun ore reserves of 978 million tonnes (Mt).
Construction is under way on key infrastructure, including a 19-kilometre haul road, camp accommodation and a communications tower.
The mining giant said the first production from Norman Creek is targeted for 2027, with full construction completed in 2028.
The 7 August announcement comes on the back of the May announcement that Rio Tinto had commenced early works and a final feasibility study on the Kangwinan project, which, if approved, will increase annual bauxite production capacity from its southern operations by up to 20Mt per year, in addition to the 23Mt currently extracted annually.
Production from the Kangwinan project would replace output from the Andoom and Gove mines, both of which are slated to close towards the end of the current decade.
Rio Tinto Pacific Operations Aluminium managing director Armando Torres said last week’s Norman Creek announcement reflected the miner’s commitment to the Weipa community.
“Norman Creek is another important step in securing the long-term future of our Weipa operations, and the benefits that mining brings to communities in the region, Queensland and the nation,” he said.
“It will maintain jobs in the region through to at least the middle of this century, ensuring continuity for our people and the Weipa community.
“The decision to approve Norman Creek reflects the quality of western Cape York’s world-class bauxite deposits, combined with the strong operational improvements our people are making at Amrun that are bolstering our confidence to invest for the long term.”
