Rio Tinto’s Amrun project nears completion

17 July 2017

Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project in Queensland is nearly one third complete, with bauxite shipments on track to begin during the first quarter of 2019.

The project, located in the Cape York Peninsula, has spent $1 billion with Queensland suppliers and supported nearly 1000 jobs onsite.

It includes a mine, processing plant and bauxite stockpiles, warehouses, a power station and new barge, ferry and ship loading facilities.

Rio recently awarded Aggreko AusPac a $100 million contract to construct and operate a 20MW power station at the site. This will involve the installation of a high-efficiency diesel power system, including engine efficiency upgrades and a heat-recovery system to be used over the duration of the contract.

Rio also awarded several mining services contracts during Amrun’s development. It granted Fulton Hogan a $45 million contract to construct a dam supplying water to the site; Sodexo a $22 million integrated services contract to supply camp management services, which included an Indigenous employment target of 20 per cent within two years; and QBirt a $70 million bulk earthworks contract.

Civmec was also awarded $160 million of contracts to construct a processing facility including bauxite beneficiation plant and associated water, electrical and lighting systems.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who met with Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques yesterday, welcomed the company’s commitment to the state.

“Queensland suppliers represent more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of all supply for the project,” Palaszczuk said.

“There are currently 930 construction workers on site, with 96 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.”

Production and shipping at Amrun is expected in early 2019, with a ramp up in production slated for the end of that year.

Source-australianmining.com