Rio Tinto has announced a $1.9bn (£1.42bn) investment to develop the Kangwinan bauxite project in the Western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia.
The brownfield development aims to secure the long-term future of the company’s Weipa Operations, supplying both international customers and local alumina refineries.
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The Kangwinan project is designed to add 20 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of bauxite production capacity by utilising some of the existing infrastructure at Weipa.
First output is scheduled for 2029 and the project is expected to reach full production in 2032.
The new production centre will be situated 15km south-east of the company’s Amrun mine, which is located 40km south of Weipa.
The initiative is expected to gradually replace output from the Andoom mine, which is nearing the end of its operational life this decade.
Once fully operational, Weipa Operations’ capacity is projected to increase to approximately 44mtpa, up from current levels of around 38mtpa.
The increased capacity is also intended to help offset the planned conclusion of production at the Gove mine in the Northern Territory in 2029.
Rio Tinto aluminium and lithium CEO Jérôme Pécresse said: “Kangwinan is a strong vote of confidence in Weipa, in the quality of its bauxite, the capability of its workforce, and the future of the communities and businesses closely connected to our operations.
“The project represents the most significant new mining investment in Queensland in recent years and is a sign of Rio Tinto’s long-term commitment to its bauxite business, the state and our integrated mine-to-metal aluminium value chain.”
Early works at the Kangwinan site began in 2025.
Plans for the facility include a 15km conveyor to move ore to expanded stockyard facilities and the existing Amrun wharf, which will also be upgraded to accommodate larger vessels, aiming to improve supply chain efficiency and freight costs.
Construction will increase in intensity from 2027 and is expected to create more than 1,300 construction-related jobs.
Rio Tinto expects the project to help maintain its residential workforce of around 1,500 people in Western Cape York over the longer term.
Last month, Rio Tinto entered into an agreement to acquire the adjacent Aurukun Bauxite Project from Glencore and Mitsubishi, pending government approvals.
The company indicated that the combined Amrun, Kangwinan and Aurukun operations will support Weipa’s activities beyond the middle of the century.
