Name of the Project
Kangwinan bauxite project.

Location
If approved, the project will establish a mining centre 15 km south-east of Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine, in the Cape York peninsula, in Far North Queensland, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Global mining group Rio Tinto.

Project Description
The project is proposing the construction of a new mine and expanding the existing port to almost double bauxite production from Rio Tinto’s Weipa Southern operations, where the Amrun mine is located.

Production will replace output from the Andoom mine, in Cape York, and the Gove mine, in the Northern Territory, which are both expected to close towards the end of the current 
decade.

The proposed expansion will increase bauxite production capacity from the Weipa Southern operations by up to 20-million tonnes, in addition to the current 23-million tonnes, and expand export capacity through the Amrun port.

Approved early works include building a 250-room camp at Amrun Village to house construction workers and developing an initial access road to the Kangwinan area.

Potential Job Creation
Kangwinan will generate more than 800 jobs in construction and will maintain the workforce currently employed at Weipa’s mines slated for closure.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not disclosed.

Planned Start/End Date
A final investment decision is due in 2026, subject to cultural heritage consultation with traditional owners, the Wik Waya people; completing engineering, cultural heritage and environment studies; and securing regulatory and other approvals. Rio Tinto is aiming for first output as early as 2029.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not disclosed.

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto, tel +61 3 9283 3333 (Australia), or email media.enquiries@riotinto.com.