South of embley

The bauxite mine bauxite mine in Cape York, being developed by Rio Tinto Alcan, has been put on hold for 18 months while the company concentrates on developing its iron ore and copper investments, however, the development remains a 'good project' and will still go ahead according to company sources.

South of Embley is an Extension of the Weipa Bauxite Operation
The South of Embley project is actually an extension of the Weipa bauxite mine which is proud of the fact that a quarter of its workforce are Indigenous, it has therefore been a main economic mainstay for the local far north Queensland community for close on 50 years. Once the South of Embley project becomes productive it will ensure the Weipa bauxite mining operation will continue for a further 40 years.

South of Embley Project Designed in Close Consultation With the Traditional Owners
Rio Tinto Alcan continues to work closely with the Traditional Owners to make certain the prosperity created from the South of Embley bauxite mine continues to be shared into the future. For this reason it has undertaken five years of research and community consultation that included the involvement of the Traditional Owners of the land on which the mine is to be situated. The South of Embley project will be an extension of the Weipa bauxite mining operations within the company's mining lease south of the Embley River. An Environmental Impact Statement prepared by Rio Tinto Alcan has been accepted by the Federal and Queensland governments that outlines how the company will develop the new mine while at the same time safeguard the Great Barrier Reef and the Cape itself.

South of Embley Mine to Produce 50 Million Tonnes of Bauxite a Year
The South of Embley mining project development will involve a staged increase in bauxite production until it gets to the target level of 50 million dry tonnes a year. The first stage will have a target of 15 million dry tonnes of bauxite annually, the second stage 30 million tonnes and the final stage the overall target amount of 50 million dry tonnes of bauxite a year will be reached.

South of Embley Construction to Employ up to 950 Workers
Construction of the South of Embley bauxite mine will include new mining areas, the construction of an access road, ship loading facilities, ferry and barge facilities, workshops, warehouses and power station. The construction workforce will require around 950 people who will be housed in a temporary construction village on site. On completion, permanent employees will commute to work to and from the mine daily by means of a ferry and bus service from Weipa.

The development of the South of Embley bauxite mine will ensure the ongoing survival of the Rio Tinto Alcan alumina refinery operations at Gladstone, that includes the expansion of Yarwin and the employment of 2,000 refinery jobs. It is also looking forward to growing its bauxite export business. The get the bauxite from the South of Embley mine to the Gladstone refinery requires the navigation of the Great Barrier Reef down the eastern side of Cape York. The development of the mine will not change the number of ships passing through this environmentally sensitive area by any substantial amount.
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