Name of the Project
Bauxite Hills Stage 2.

Location
Queensland, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Metro Mining.

Project Description
The project has reserves of 109.5-million tonnes and a mine life to 2037.

The project aims to increase production of bauxite from 3.5-million wet metric tonnes a year to six-million wet metric tonnes a year.

Stage 2 involves the construction and mobilisation to Skardon river of a floating terminal that can load six-million wet metric tonnes a year of bauxite; upscaling the current mining, haulage and transshipments fleets; and the optimisation and upgrading of the existing port and barge loading facilities.

The preferred floating terminal design comprises a 100 m barge, equipped with two cranes and a materials handling conveyor and stacker system that can load up to 40 000 t/d of bauxite.

The terminal will be able to load different-sized ocean-going vessels.

This will enable Metro to take advantage of chartering Capesize vessels to realise significant freight savings while maintaining client flexibility by still being able to load smaller ocean-going vessels.

The project includes the expansion of the accommodation camp, port area modifications and fleet additions, including mobilisation.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Project payback is less than 18 months.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at A$51.4-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Commissioning of the floating terminal is expected in the first quarter of 2021.

Latest Developments
The final decision to proceed with the project will follow once the funding package has been finalised and the detailed engineering and design work from Rocktree has been completed.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
MEC Mining (DFS); Rocktree Consulting (engineering, design and supplier quotation for the floating terminal); Braemar (freight forwarding estimates); CM Group (forward price decks); Wave Engineering (construction and previous feasibility studies); and Ausenco (project management services to oversee the tendering of equipment and construction of the floating terminal).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Metro Mining, tel +61 7 3009 8000 or email info@metromining.com.au.