Rio Tinto loads first shipment of bauxite from Amrun mine

Rio Tinto has loaded first shipment of bauxite from its US$1.9 billion Amrun project in Queensland, six weeks ahead of schedule. More than 80,000 tonnes of bauxite are expected to arrive at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone next week.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said “Bringing Amrun online further strengthens our position as a leading supplier in the seaborne market. We have the largest bauxite resources in the industry and are geographically well positioned to supply China’s significant future import needs, as well as supporting our refinery and smelting operations in Australia and New Zealand.

 “The Amrun mine will ensure generational jobs for Queenslanders and build significantly on our 55-year history on the Western Cape.”

Amrun mine will replace production from the depleting East Weipa mine and increase annual bauxite exports by around 10 million tonnes. Amrun is expected to reach a full production rate of 22.8 million tonnes a year during 2019.

Rio Tinto is the world’s largest producer of bauxite, with production of 50.8 million tonnes in 2017.

Rio Tinto Growth & Innovation group executive Stephen McIntosh said “We are proud to have delivered the project safely, ahead of time and within budget thanks to innovation in the design and fabrication of key infrastructure purpose-built for construction at Amrun’s remote location.

“We thank our community and Traditional Owner partners for their continued support and congratulate the Amrun Project and Weipa Operations teams on this great achievement.”