Mine: transition the Huntly Mine to the proposed Myara North and Holyoake mine regions within ML1SA (inclusive of bauxite for the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and the Kwinana Alumina Refinery);
Refinery: increase production at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery by 5 per cent from 5.0 million tonnes per annum 5.25 million tonnes per annum including development of water storage ponds and associated borrow pits; and
Export: increase the rate of mining at the Huntly Mine to supply up to 2.5 Mtpa of bauxite for export.
Huntly Bauxite Mine
Huntly currently mines about 27 Mtpa of bauxite with 100% supplied to the Pinjarra and Kwinana refineries.
Bauxite forms in shallow pods, which means a constantly moving mining footprint followed by progressive rehabilitation. Extensive studies are undertaken prior to mining to ensure important environmental, cultural and social values are identified and, where appropriate, protected.
Less than a quarter of the Myara North and Holyoake mine and transport study areas (see map) would be cleared under our proposal. This would produce enough bauxite to enable Pinjarra and Kwinana refineries to continue to operate for about 10 years along with a small amount for export, should this be pursued in the future.
Under current plans, the proposed next mining areas would operate from between around 2025-2035.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery
Pinjarra refinery currently produces about 4.7 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of alumina and has approval to produce up to 5 Mtpa. Production is expected to reach 5 Mtpa in coming years due to ongoing operational improvements and efficiency upgrades.
Approval to produce up to 5.25 Mtpa would enable continued efficiency improvements over time. There are no plans for a major upgrade at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery.
Bauxite Export
Alcoa completed a trial in December 2021 to export up to 2.5 Mtpa of bauxite.
Currently Alcoa requires 100% of the bauxite produced at Huntly Mine to supply Pinjarra and Kwinana refineries.
Approval would give us the option to export up to 2.5 Mtpa of the total WA bauxite produced annually, should operational priorities change.
FAST FACTS
Huntly Bauxite Mine:
- Under current planning, the next two proposed mining areas would operate from around 2025-2035
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery:
- Current approval: 5 Mtpa alumina
- Proposed: 5.25 Mtpa alumina
Bauxite Export:
- Trial to export 2.5 Mtpa ended in 2021
- Seeking renewed approval to allow for potential future bauxite export at up to
2.5 Mtpa - Export would represent ~7% of annual bauxite mined
