Rio Tinto to invest $1.9 billion in Australian bauxite expansion

Rio Tinto has announced a $1.9 billion investment to develop the Kangwinan project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. The initiative aims to expand bauxite production to support the global aluminum supply chain and offset declining output from maturing deposits.

The project is expected to add an annual production capacity of 20 million tonnes. This expansion would bring the total annual capacity of the Weipa operations to approximately 44 million tonnes, up from the current level of nearly 38 million tonnes. Key infrastructure developments include a 15-kilometer ore conveyor system to connect new facilities with existing infrastructure, alongside upgrades to storage and shipping areas.

First production is targeted for 2029, with the project expected to reach full capacity by 2032. During the construction phase, the project is anticipated to create over 1,300 jobs, supporting a long-term regional workforce of approximately 1,500 employees.