Queensland bauxite expansion: Rio Tinto project targets 1,300 construction jobs with $1.9bn investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project

Rio Tinto’s planned USD 1.9 billion investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project is expected to support more than 1,300 construction jobs in Queensland, while helping secure the long-term future of its Weipa mining operations as existing sources of production approach the end of their lives.

Located on Western Cape York Peninsula, Kangwinan will add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production capacity, with first output targeted for 2029 and full production expected by 2032. The project will raise Weipa Operations’ annual capacity to around 44 million tonnes from current production of approximately 38 million tonnes.

Construction is scheduled to ramp up in 2027. Beyond the immediate employment boost, the investment is expected to help sustain Rio Tinto’s residentially based workforce of around 1,500 people in Western Cape York, alongside opportunities for local and regional businesses.

Replacing ageing mines to secure future supply

Kangwinan is designed to replace production from the Andoom mine near Weipa as the operation reaches the end of its life this decade. It will also help compensate for the planned cessation of production at the Gove mine in the Northern Territory in 2029.

The investment is therefore a key part of Rio Tinto’s efforts to maintain bauxite supply to international customers and its Australian alumina refineries while extending the life of its regional operations.

Rio Tinto Aluminium and Lithium chief executive Jérôme Pécresse described the project as a long-term commitment to the company’s bauxite business and its integrated mine-to-metal aluminium value chain.

“Kangwinan is a strong vote of confidence in Weipa, in the quality of its bauxite, the capability of its workforce, and the future of the communities and businesses closely connected to our operations,” Pécresse said.

He added that the project represented one of Queensland’s most significant new mining investments in recent years.

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Conveyor and port upgrades to support expansion

Kangwinan will establish a new bauxite production centre approximately 15 kilometres south-east of Rio Tinto’s Amrun mine, which lies around 40 kilometres south of Weipa.

A 15-kilometre conveyor will carry ore from the new operation to expanded stockyard facilities and the existing Amrun wharf. The wharf will also be upgraded to accommodate larger Capesize vessels, with the aim of improving supply-chain efficiency and reducing freight costs.

The project will use some existing infrastructure, forming part of what Rio Tinto describes as a brownfield investment. Early works began in 2025, ahead of the planned construction ramp-up in 2027.

Wider Western Cape bauxite strategy

The Kangwinan investment follows Rio Tinto’s agreement last month to acquire the adjacent Aurukun Bauxite Project from Glencore, which holds a 70 per cent interest, and Mitsubishi, which owns the remaining 30 per cent. The transaction remains subject to government approvals.

Rio Tinto expects the combined Amrun, Kangwinan and Aurukun operations to support Weipa Operations well beyond the middle of this century, using existing and planned infrastructure.

Pécresse said continued cooperation with Traditional Owners and local communities would be critical to the project’s long-term success.

“As Kangwinan moves forward, and with the planned acquisition of the Aurukun Bauxite Project, we will keep listening and working together to create lasting value for Western Cape York, while respecting the connection Traditional Owners have to Country and making sure they continue to benefit sustainably from our operations,” he said.

He added that the investment would support jobs, create opportunities for local and regional businesses, and help maintain supplies of the high-quality bauxite customers have relied on for decades.

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