Aurukun Bauxite Project:
Quick facts:
Major business: Bauxite mining and alumina refinery
Estimate future Capex: approximately AU$3 billion (US$2 billion)
Estimated reserves: 420 million tonnes
Estimated planned capacity (bauxite mining): initial 6.4 million beneficiated tonnes per annum
Estimated planned capacity (alumina refinery): 2.1 million tonnes per annum
Australia is a key area of investment for Chinalco and Chalco. The Aurukun Project in Cape York, Queensland, is intended to develop a bauxite mine with an initial annual capacity of 6.4 million beneficiated tonnes and construct bauxite loading facilities and potentially an alumina refinery with an annual capacity of 2.1 million tonnes.
In March 2007, Chalco and the State Government of Queensland entered into the Aurukun Project Development Agreement. Chalco also entered into a Land Use Agreement with the indigenous people with respect to the Aurukun Project. The Queensland Government has since officially issued the Aurukun bauxite exploration permit to Chalco via its Australian subsidiary Chalco Australia.
Chalco commenced a feasibility study in the fourth quarter of 2007, and a principal contractor for the Aurukun Project was selected through a bidding process. Chalco expects to complete the feasibility study in the first half of 2009 and to get approval from the Queensland Government with respect to the related Environmental Evaluation Statement.
