Another Tasmanian bauxite mine is on the cards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Australian Bauxite Limited has sold products to the fertiliser and cement industries from its Bald Hill Mine site, near Campbell Town, since 2015.
It is now working towards a new and larger bauxite mine at Fingal Rail, near Conara.
In a presentation prepared for the Gold Coast Investment Showcase investor event on Wednesday, chief executive and managing director Ian Levy said the company's focus in 2021-22 would include a new long-term mine in Tasmania to produce cement-grade bauxite.
It is seeking a mining lease from the state government for Fingal Rail.
Also on the drawing board was a 20-year bauxite mine at Binjour, inland from Bundaberg, with the aim of starting production in 2022.
The presentation said the Queensland project would be fully funded by an Indian bauxite producer partner to supply the aluminium industry in India, China and Australia.
Majority-owned subsidiary Alcore would press on with plans to become Australia's first producer of aluminium fluoride, an essential product for aluminium smelters.
It aims to develop its first production site at Bell Bay.
The presentation said Australia was the only significant aluminium producer without an aluminium fluoride plant, while aluminium fluoride sales to Australia from China had been reduced to zero.
"Australasia must become self-sufficient in aluminium fluoride to avoid smelter closures," it said.
Australian Bauxite is also working towards sourcing rare earth elements in Tasmania's North.
The company is chaired by former Tasmanian Labor premier Paul Lennon.