Glencore reportedly frozen out of Aurukun bauxite rights negotiation

Reports are being heard that Glencore has been frozen out of negotiations with the traditional owners of the Aurukun bauxite developers and has been issued a legal letter informing them that there will be no negotiation regarding mining with anyone else other than Australian Bauxite Developers.

Although Glencore had been announced the ‘preferred proponent’ by the government for the land, traditional owners that is the Wik and Wik Way people had preferred the local ABD for the task. According to the legal letter issued to Glencore, they are informed that under the Land Use Agreement the Ngan Aak Kunch (NAK) representing the native titleholders, ABD will be the sole candidates for negotiation for land rights.

The government had granted Glencore access to disputed land but there has been a furor over the decision which is now being backed by the controversial independent Billy Gordon.

Till now, no one has been granted access to the bauxite reserves although Glencore does have the right to progress its work and apply for a subsequent Mineral Development Licence which will further allow them to carry out the necessary feasibility studies and environmental-impact statement.