Rio Tinto’s first bauxite shipment arrives in Gladstone

The first shipment of bauxite from Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project in Queensland has arrived at the Port of Gladstone. More than 80,000 tonnes of bauxite were loaded onto the vessel RTM Weipa for departure from the Western Cape York Peninsula on December 3, achieved six weeks ahead of schedule.

Rio Tinto Yarwun general manager Mark Gilmore said: “This arrival of the first shipment from Amrun is an exciting milestone for us.” 

 “It not only marks the start of additional supply to our two alumina refineries and smelter in Gladstone, but will support China’s significant import needs for decades to come.”

“Amrun has provided a major boost to the Queensland economy, and will continue to do so, not only on Cape York Peninsula, but also in Gladstone.”

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.