Bauxite
Product
1,047
Employees
35.4MT
Production
100%
Ownership
1963
Started
2019 figures. Employees figure includes 25% Indigenous participation.
Weipa, Far North Queensland
Our Weipa operations in far north Queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals.
The development of Amrun, our newest mine, completed in 2018, will extend the life of our Weipa bauxite operations by decades to come, 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 Wik-Waya traditional land. We work closely with the Traditional Owners to ensure the benefits generated from mining support future generations and that important cultural heritage sites are looked after.
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Our Weipa Mines
East Weipa, Andoom and Amrun -
Ports
Two independent shipping terminals at two locations, Weipa and Western Cape York Peninsula managed as a single port system, and an export wharf and ferry terminal at Amrun. -
Rail
19 kilometres of rail network to transport bauxite from East Weipa and Andoom mines to the port.
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.
During the construction of 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 will oversee 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.
In 2019, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) granted its Performance Standard and Chain of Custody certifications to our Amrun and Weipa bauxite mines. ASI certification means customers can be assured that the aluminium they purchase has been produced to the highest environmental, social and governance standards, ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to human rights.
Growth
We have been mining bauxite in Far North Queensland for more than 55 years and with the development of Amrun, our $A2.6 billion newest site completed in 2018, we have secured a mining future for the region for many more decades to come.
The mine and associated processing and port facilities will replace production from our depleting East Weipa mine and increase annual bauxite export capacity by around 10 million tonnes, at a time when higher-grade bauxite is becoming scarcer globally.
Latest Weipa Releases
28 May 2019
Rio Tinto Amrun wins QRC Indigenous Procurement Award
Rio Tinto’s newly operational $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite mine has won the ‘Best Company Indigenous Procurement Initiative Award’ at the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Indigenous Awards, held in Brisbane last night and organised to coincide with National Reconciliation Week.
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04 March 2019
Rio Tinto completes commissioning of Amrun bauxite mine
Rio Tinto has completed commissioning of the $1.9 billion ($A2.6 billion) Amrun bauxite mine on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.
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11 December 2018
First shipment from Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine arrives in Gladstone
Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery is celebrating the first shipment from Rio Tinto’s newly operational A$2.6 billion Amrun bauxite mine in Far North Queensland after the RTM Weipa berthed at Fisherman’s Landing at the Port of Gladstone yesterday.
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For requests or enquiries about survey data and methodology collected by the Amrun Project in accordance with Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Approval EPBC 2010/5642, email: amrun.enquiries@riotinto.com.
Contact Weipa
Power Outage / General Works Hotline
T: 1800 820 711