Alcoa Bauxite Shipment Is Dangerous For Our Communities

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Published: Friday, 12 August 2016 21:44

It has long been said that the only way to make money out of Darling Range bauxite was to refine it locally. That reason alone left many people sitting on the fence in regard to whether or not a Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) operation would ever get off the ground here in the Toodyay, Northam and Mundaring shires.

For many years Alcoa have mined bauxite from the Huntley and Willowdale mines soley to feed their 3 hungry alumina refinieries at Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup.

Part of the original State agreement signed with the State Government and Alcoa meant that mining and refining would go hand in hand to employ many West Australian workers.

Last year the Premier Colin Barnett (the then minister for mines) granted approval for Alcoa to export 500,000 tonnes of bauxite for trial refining in Asian refineries.

It was reported in the West today that a ship sitting in Kwinana has been loaded with 47,000 tonnes of bauxite and will ship out within days. Destination China.

If Alcoa can find a market for low grade bauxite of between 27 - 31% Al203 content (Which is the same as the grade found here), then the chance of Yankuang operating a DSO operation here from the Felicitas and Fortuna resources looks more and more feasible.

Are we actually going to allow this to happen HERE???

AHMAG

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