- ABx is also undertaking exploration activities in northern Tasmania
- ABx subsidiary ALCORE is proposing to build a $16.4M aluminium smelter bath recycling plant
- Alcore plant was recently granted $7.5M
The Australian Aluminium Council (the Council) welcome ABx Group (ABx) to as the newest member of the Council.
ABx is currently undertaking exploration and approvals for the Sunrise Bauxite Project (a 50:50 joint venture with Alumin Pty Ltd). Sunrise comprises a bauxite mine at Binjour plateau and port operations at Bundaberg in Queensland and is anticipated to initially produce 500,000 tonnes per year of gibbsiterich trihydrate bauxite, then scaling up to full operational capacity of 2 million tonnes. Subject to necessary approvals, the mine could commence operations in 2023. ABx is also undertaking exploration activities in northern Tasmania which may lead to further opportunities.
CEO of the Council, Marghanita Johnson, said “ABx is the Council’s third member in the bauxite exploration class, with the industry demonstrating active exploration in new regional areas across Australia. Bauxite is the critical mineral used to produce aluminium which will be widely used in the global transition to a clean energy future. Australia’s bauxite mining has a high global reputation for land management, biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation. ABx membership demonstrates the importance the industry places on sharing this experience with new entrants before mining even starts.”
Additionally, ABx subsidiary ALCORE Limited (Alcore) is proposing to build a $16.4M aluminium smelter bath recycling plant in Bell Bay, Tasmania. The plant is proposed to transform 1,600 tonnes per year of aluminium smelter bath into aluminium fluoride, an essential chemical for aluminium smelting, for which Australia currently imports 100% of its requirements. The Alcore plant was recently granted $7.5M from the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative to support the plant construction.
Ms Johnson said “The potential to establishment domestic aluminium fluoride production will help protect the aluminium industry from supply chain disruption, increase Australia’s manufacturing resilience and capability. This increase in the security of supply for Australian aluminium smelters will also create highly skilled manufacturing jobs, and the production of aluminium fluoride from aluminium smelter bath is an excellent illustration of the circular economy Mark Cooksey, CEO of ABx Group, added “ABx Group is delighted to be joining the Australian Aluminium Council. We are active in two sectors of the aluminium value chain, and are a strong supporter of the Council’s objective to grow the aluminium industry in Australia. We plan for our bauxite projects and aluminium fluoride technology to increase the resilience of the Australian aluminium industry.“