Rio Tinto to acquire Aurukun bauxite project from Glencore, Mitsubishi

Rio Tinto has announced its intention to acquire the Aurukun Bauxite Project in Western Cape York, Queensland, Australia, from a joint venture involving Glencore and Mitsubishi Development. The financial specifics of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and the deal still requires approval from the Queensland Government and other Australian authorities.

The Aurukun project would expand Rio Tinto's existing bauxite operations in the area. However, Aurukun is currently under a mineral development licence and has not yet received a mining lease.

Glencore stated that their partnership with the Aurukun project provided significant resources over the years, including design work, development activities, and securing necessary approvals. The joint venture evaluated its options and determined that transferring ownership to Rio Tinto would offer the most promising path for future development, considering Rio Tinto's established bauxite operations in the region.

Should the acquisition go through, Rio Tinto plans to seek all required regulatory clearances and continue collaborating with the traditional owners of the land as they progress with the project.

In a related matter, Rio Tinto and the Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation have reached an interim modernized agreement to enhance their collaboration and deliver long-term benefits for the Ngarlawangga people. This interim deal builds upon a 2011 Participation Agreement and establishes a co-management approach to how the two entities will work together on Ngarlawangga Country within the agreement area.

The agreement includes improved engagement throughout the mine's life cycle. In July 2026, Rio Tinto signed an offtake agreement with Australian company SuperChar, committing to supply bio pellets for its alumina refineries in Gladstone, Queensland.