South of Embley project
Rio Tinto Alcan is conducting a feasibility study to extend its Weipa bauxite mine in an area south of the Embley River. The South of Embley project would extend the Weipa mine life by approximately 40 years depending on production rates.
The project will progressively replace depleted bauxite reserves at the East Weipa and Andoom mining areas, maintain continuity of supply to Rio Tinto Alan's two Gladstone alumina refineries, and continue to generate employment and other economic benefi ts on the Western Cape.
Rio Tinto Alcan has assessed the project over the last two years and through a series of social and environmental studies and in consultation with key stakeholders. This information was used to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS was available for public comment from 1 August to 12 September. It was available for display in Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon, Bamaga, Cooktown, Cairns, Brisbane and Canberra. It is also available online (please see link below to PDF documents).
At the end of our six week public consultation period last year we received 24 submissions on the EIS. We then analysed the information and provided responses to the Queensland Government. The Queensland Government has asked Rio Tinto Alcan to prepare a Supplementary Report to the EIS to address some of the matters raised in the submissions (please see link below for PDF).
The South of Embley project involves a staged increase in production up to 50 million dry product tonnes per annum (mdptpa). The EIS modelled the impacts of a range of operating levels - 15 mdptpa, 30 mdptpa and 50 mdptpa. The project includes new mining areas, construction of new infrastructure including beneficiation plants, power station, warehouses, workshops, barge and ferry facilities, ship loading facilities, and an access road. Construction could start in 2012, depending on regulatory and internal approvals.
A construction workforce will be accommodated in a temporary construction village on site and, once operational, employees would commute daily to the mine, via a ferry and bus service.
If you have any questions about the project, please email external.affairs@riotinto.com or telephone 1800 308 938.
South of Embley project newsletter
February 2012
July 2011
December 2010
March 2009
June 2008
South of Embley project fact sheets
Water use and storage
Port
Ferry and barge
Environmental Impact Statement
Rio Tinto Alcan has released an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the South of Embley Project. The EIS is based on a series of social and environmental studies and extensive consultation with stakeholders about the South of Embley project. Due to its length, the EIS has been divided into four volumes. To access the complete volumes click here.
You can also access the EIS Summary document in PDF format.
Supplementary Report to EIS statement
Rio Tinto Alcan has prepared a Supplementary Report to the Environmental Impact Statement for the South of Embley Project. Due to its size the Supplementary Report has been divided into sections. To access the sections please click here.
If you have any difficulty downloading the Supplementary Report and its appendices, please email external.affairs@riotinto.com.
