Australia’s Rio Tinto to invest $1.9 billion in Queensland bauxite project

Rio Tinto has announced plans to invest $1.9 billion in a new bauxite project in Queensland, Australia. This investment will replace output from the aging Andoom mine and increase annual production capacity at the Weipa bauxite operations. The development, named Kangwinan, will add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production to Weipa, with first output expected in 2029 and full production by 2032.

Weipa is one of the world's largest bauxite mining complexes, supplying ore for various industries, including construction, transportation, packaging, and renewable energy infrastructure. The new project will replace production from the Andoom mine as it reaches the end of its life and boost Weipa's annual production capacity from around 38 million tonnes to approximately 44 million tonnes.

Rio Tinto's acquisition of the adjacent Aurukun Bauxite Project from Glencore and Mitsubishi, pending regulatory approvals, aims to extend long-term growth in the region. The combined Amrun, Kangwinan, and Aurukun operations are expected to support Weipa's bauxite business well into the future.