Newman Government releases five shortlisted bidders for Aurukun bauxite deposit

CHINA'S biggest aluminium maker will go head-to-head with its biggest rivals in a pitch for the $25 billion Aurukun bauxite deposit on Cape York.

The Newman Government has released the details of the five shortlisted bidders with the successful venture to be announced by the end of the year.

The list includes Aluminium Corporation of China Limited which owned the lease for seven years; Glencore International AG; Cape Alumina Consortium; Rio Tinto Aluminium Ltd; and newcomer Australian Indigenous Resources.

Chalco spent a reported $100 million of preparatory work on the 650 million tonne lode until it cancelled the $3 billion deal in 2011 citing the previous Queensland government requirement of building of a refinery as unviable.

In Cairns on Tuesday, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the project was vital to the economic future of indigenous Cape York and Queensland.

“We will see these benefits through mining jobs and improvements to infrastructure and further benefits through businesses that could be established in Aurukun to service the mine."

He said under the previous government the land stood undeveloped and “came to nothing".

“(After) The Bligh Government’s failed strategy of establishing a refinery, we want to ensure the economic benefits of this resource flow back into the Aurukun community."