Alurion’s Amargosa bauxite project gets clearance for 11.5Mtpa road haulage

Alurion Resources has cleared a key logistics hurdle for its Amargosa bauxite project in Brazil, with an independent study confirming that Bahia’s public road network can support haulage of up to 11.5 wet million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).

The assessment by transport engineering firm Engimind covers three potential haulage levels of 5.75, 8.625 and 11.5 wet Mtpa. Its findings double the original scoping study base case and give Alurion a defined road route as it advances towards a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) targeted for mid-2027.

Road capacity supports higher Amargosa volumes

The study confirmed the northern route to the Port of Enseada via the BR-101 highway as suitable for the project. The route is about 160km from the North District and 220km from the Central District.

Importantly, the assessment found no modelled road-capacity constraints across any of the three haulage scenarios. Alurion trucks would account for less than 1 per cent of corridor traffic at base-case volumes and 1.6 per cent at the maximum 11.5 Mtpa scenario.

"The study provides independent validation for the road-capacity assumptions in Amargosa’s development planning. It gives the PFS a defined route and fleet configuration, with no modelled road-capacity constraints under any of the three haulage scenarios assessed.

"Our base case remains road haulage to Enseada. The PFS will test whether higher volumes and modular port expansion can improve project economics and justify the additional investment," explains Alurion CEO Maurício Noronha.

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Fleet and rail options add flexibility

Alongside confirming the road network, Engimind recommended a seven-axle truck configuration with a 59-tonne gross combination weight. The recommendation provides the basis for fleet sizing and operating cost assessments as the project moves through its next development stage.

Alurion is also keeping a rail option open. The study validated an 86km southern route from the Central District to a proposed FIOL rail load-out, although progressing this option would depend on third-party infrastructure.

Enseada expansion becomes the next focus

With road haulage established as the base case, Alurion is now assessing how the logistics capacity could support a larger-scale operation. The company is working with the Enseada port operator on engineering assessments for an expansion capable of handling up to 13.5 wet Mtpa.

The haulage findings will feed into Amargosa’s mine planning and PFS, which is targeted for mid-2027. Drilling, trenching and metallurgical programmes are expected to begin in Q4 2026 as the project moves towards that study.

For the moment, the independent assessment gives Alurion a confirmed road pathway for up to 11.5 wet Mtpa, while the potential FIOL connection provides an alternative route and higher port capacity remains under assessment.

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