Aluminium
Aluminium is a versatile metal, found in everything from foil packaging, cans and bottle tops to windows, roofing and electrical wiring.
Rio Tinto Alcan is one of the world's largest producers of bauxite, alumina and aluminium. We have been operating in Queensland since the mid-1950s when we developed bauxite deposits at Weipa. Our other assets in Queensland include the Yarwun alumina refinery, and an 80 per cent interest in Queensland Alumina Limited.
The recent expansion of the Yarwun alumina refinery will more than double its production capacity from 1.4 million tonnes to 3.4 million tonnes.
Currently going through approvals, the South of Embley Project would see bauxite mining extended to an area of our mining lease near Weipa on western Cape York Peninsula. The project involves a staged increase in production of up to a possible 50 million dry product tonnes per annum.
Some of our aluminium businesses sit within Pacific Aluminium, and are being prepared for divestment. These include Boyne Smelters, NRG Gladstone Power Station, Gove bauxite mine and alumina refinery, Tomago Aluminium and Bell Bay aluminium smelter.
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