By Rhiannon Hoyle
Rio Tinto said Thursday it is conducting final engineering studies and early works to raise production capacity at the Amrun bauxite mine in Australia's Queensland state.
The Kangwinan project would comprise a new mine and port expansion, allowing Rio Tinto to almost double bauxite production from its Weipa Southern operations, where Amrun is located. Rio Tinto said it targets first production around 2029.
The project is aimed at ensuring Rio Tinto has enough bauxite supply for its Australian alumina refineries and customers. Production from the Kangwinan project would replace output from the Andoom mine in Queensland and the Gove mine in Australia's Northern Territory, which are expected to close toward the end of the decade, the company said.
The alumina Rio Tinto makes, at refineries in Queensland, is turned into aluminum at smelters across Australia and New Zealand.
Rio Tinto said it intends to make a final investment decision on the project in 2026.
The proposal would add up to 20 million metric tons of bauxite production capacity to the Weipa Southern operations. The current capacity is around 23 million tons. Approved early works include a camp for construction workers and an access road, Rio Tinto said.
Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 21, 2025 23:33 ET (03:33 GMT)
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