Australian Bauxite Ltd submits mining lease application for fully funded Sunrise Bauxite Project

Australian Bauxite Ltd made public towards the submission of mining lease application for fully-funded Sunrise Bauxite Project, Binjour QLD. If the application is approved then the bauxite will be shipped from the port of Bundaberg.

Australian Bauxite Limited that operates mines in Tasmania estimated 55 direct jobs and up to 150 indirect jobs from mine to port.

The company said: “We enjoyed strong support from landholders, who will be briefed individually after travel restrictions are eased.”

“If and when approved, the Sunrise Bauxite operations will commence on the Binjour Plateau and, in time, bring smaller regional bauxite deposits into operation to develop a long-term supply chain for this gibbsite-rich type of bauxite which can be refined into alumina at a lower temperature with significantly improved energy efficiency,” the company said.

Sunrise Bauxite Project’s resource is estimated at 37 million tonnes and is planned to sell 500,000 tonnes per year.

The Company said: “The first 10 to 15 years of operation will focus on high-grade zones that require little processing.”

“Australian Bauxite has a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Bundaberg to investigate the opportunity to export bauxite in bulk tonnages through the Port.”

“The plan is to produce high-quality metallurgical-grade bauxite exported in large bulk carrier ships from the Port of Bundaberg, which would increase economic activity and export capabilities around Bundaberg which lies south and outside the Great Barrier Reef.”

Binjour Bauxite is supreme for dry-screening to remove fine fractions that must be minimised for safe shipping, as bulk-screening test work in late September confirmed laboratory tests in mid-2019.

The company aspires to augment production during the Queensland dry season, which is April to November, while the Tasmanian mines will focus on summer output from December to May.

ABx's marketing partner, Rawmin Mining and Industries Pvt Ltd of India has undertaken to fund all pre-production and working capital costs for the Sunrise Bauxite Project estimated to total $15 million and will be entitled to a 50% joint venture interest in the project, while ABx will be the project operator.