Weipa

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.

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.