Key facts
- Rio Tinto will invest $1.9 billion in the Kangwinan bauxite project in Queensland.
- The project is expected to increase Weipa's annual bauxite production capacity to 44 million tonnes.
- First output from Kangwinan is targeted for 2029, with full production by 2032.
- The development will replace output from the Andoom mine and offset the closure of the Gove mine.
Rio Tinto announced on Friday, October 23, that it will invest $1.9 billion to develop the Kangwinan bauxite project in Queensland, Australia. This investment is intended to replace output from the aging Andoom mine and increase the annual production capacity at its Weipa bauxite operations. The Kangwinan project is expected to add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production, with initial output targeted for 2029 and full production by 2032. Weipa, one of the world's largest bauxite mining complexes, supplies ore for alumina and aluminum production used in various industries. The development will also help offset the planned 2029 closure of Rio's Gove bauxite mine in the Northern Territory. The announcement follows Rio's recent agreement to acquire the adjacent Aurukun Bauxite Project from Glencore and Mitsubishi, pending regulatory approvals.