Remote resources fuel jobs across state

Published Tuesday, 11 December, 2018 at 04:10 PM

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

After a 2000 km sea journey, the first shipment of bauxite from Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Amrun project in Far North Queensland has sailed into central Queensland to sustain local jobs.

Assistant Minister for Treasury and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the 80,000-plus tonne cargo would be refined in Gladstone, where about 3000 people work at the Yarwun and Queensland Aluminium Limited alumina refineries.

“Today’s delivery at Gladstone demonstrates the broad-reaching value of the resources sector to Queensland, supporting jobs in onshore processing in CQ, thousands of kilometres from the mine,” he said.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Rio Tinto’s aluminium supply chain in Queensland was an example of the importance of Queensland’s resource sector to the state’s economy.

“Rio Tinto’s Amrun project employed 1200 people at peak construction and will create jobs for decades to come for Queenslanders in the remote far north,” Dr Lynham said.

“As well, Rio Tinto has invested $244 million during Amrun’s construction with local Cape York companies alone.

“We have a world-class ‘minerals for industry’ sector unmatched anywhere in the world and it’s great to see Rio Tinto taking this new resource to international markets,” Dr Lynham said.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said Amrun’s development meant confidence in the future for the local community in Weipa.

“Local employment and training opportunities are so important to the communities of the Cook electorate, and as I said in my maiden speech in Parliament earlier this year, I want to work with the mining industry to increase local employment in the interests of both local residents and the companies.”

Weipa has been the heart of Queensland’s bauxite mining industry for more than 50 years and supplies the raw product used to produce 10 per cent of the world’s aluminium. The Amrun project is expected to add around 10 million tonnes to the state’s bauxite exports.

Rio Tinto expects Amrun to reach a full production rate of 22.8 million tonnes a year by 2019 and will replace production from the depleting East Weipa mine.

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Media contact: Jan Martin 0439 341 314