Weipa, Far North Queensland

Our Weipa operations in Far North Queensland includes 3 bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, 2 ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals.

Amrun, our newest mine, was completed in 2018 and will extend our Weipa bauxite operations by decades, significantly building on our 55-year history on the Western Cape, and providing jobs and supporting business growth in the region. The mine is located on traditional land. We work closely with the Traditional Owners to implement our agreements, ensuring that the benefits generated from mining support future generations and that important cultural heritage sites are identified and preserved.

In 2022, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Traditional Owner representatives from the Alngith, Anathangayth, Peppan and Wathayn Traditional Owner groups on a consultation process around the closure planning for the East Weipa bauxite mine.

Innovation at Weipa

Respecting the environment and local communities is a priority for our operations. Amrun – our flagship bauxite development which made its first shipment in December 2018 – was built with advanced technology, innovation and a commitment to the Western Cape York community and strong partnership with the local Wik-Waya Traditional Owners. At the request of Traditional Owners, it was named Amrun, the Wik Waya people’s traditional name for the area where most of the mine’s infrastructure is located.

While constructing Amrun, we used innovative modular engineering techniques to build the wharf more safely, faster and with a smaller environmental footprint.

We also used virtual reality to help the local community and Traditional Owners understand how the mine and surrounding areas would eventually look. Today, we oversee activities at Amrun in real-time, using the latest technology and predictive mathematical tools to run operations safely and efficiently.

Our Bauxite Integrated Operations Centre oversees the way we run our northern Australia operations in real time. The Operations Centre team uses the latest technology and tools like predictive maths, clever computer code and powerful software to run East Weipa, Amrun, Andoom and Gove mines safely and efficiently.

We have been a member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) since January 2015, and the Weipa bauxite mines have been certified against the ASI Performance Standard and ASI Chain of Custody Standard as part of our commitment to responsible production and sourcing of aluminium.

Reducing our emissions

Once approved and complete, the Amrun solar farm will be Rio Tinto’s third in Weipa, and combined with the existing Weipa renewable power generation network, the solar farms will reduce Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by an estimated 10 million litres per year and lower its annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 28,000 tonnes - the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 internal combustion engine passenger cars off the road.