MINING giant Rio Tinto has awarded more than $900 million in contracts to Queensland businesses as work at its new Cape York Peninsula bauxite mine 40km South of Weipa.
The Amrun project near Weipa includes construction of a processing plant, power station, warehouses and port facilities.
Some 509 Queensland businesses had been engaged directly or indirectly to supply goods and services to the mine, which was expected to start production in 2019.
The $2.6 billion mine, 40km south of Weipa, will replace the company’s depleting East Weipa bauxite mine. It is expected to employ in excess of 2,000 employees during the construction phase.
The mine will increase overall bauxite exports from Cape York by about 10 million tonnes a year.
Rio joins smaller companies such as Metro Mining and Metallica in expanding bauxite extraction in the Weipa area, one of the richest deposits in the world of the mineral.
Metro said its mine could produce revenue of $5.7 billion and earnings of $2.5 billion over a 17-year life amid rising demand from China for the raw material used to make aluminium.
Workers who wish to apply for a position on this project are required to hold the S1 competency (RIIRIS301D Apply Risk Management Processes). OHSA has been engaged by numerous contractors on the AMRUN project to deliver a distance learning / online S1 course specifically tailored to this project to facilitate your entry onto this project.
