Rio Tinto Commits $1.9B to Queensland Mine

Rio Tinto will invest US$1.9 billion to develop the Kangwinan bauxite project on Queensland’s Western Cape York Peninsula, adding 20 million tonnes of annual capacity to its Weipa operations. First production is targeted for 2029, with full production expected by 2032; the expansion will replace output from the aging Andoom mine and help offset the planned 2029 closure of the Gove mine. Weipa’s annual capacity is expected to rise from about 38 million tonnes to 44 million tonnes. Construction is due to ramp up in 2027 and is expected to support more than 1,300 jobs, while the project is intended to sustain Rio Tinto’s long-term regional operations.