Metro set for April restart at Bauxite Hills

Metro Mining is ready to restart operations at its Bauxite Hills mine in Far North Queensland next month, after an early shutdown last year and its usual wet season downtime. The company directly employs more than 120 people from Cape communities and the Cairns region at the bauxite mine, while an additional 130 people are employed by contractors who provide services to the company. Metro Mining managing director and chief executive officer Simon Finnis. Metro said today it had set a target to mine and ship 4 million wet metric tonnes of bauxite between April and December. “The Metro team and our contracting partners are keen to get back to work and we are in the fortunate position of being able to welcome back many people who have experience working at Bauxite Hills before," Metro Mining managing director and chief executive officer Simon Finnis said. "We have implemented several operational changes that will improve efficiencies, and will continue to focus on mining and shipping rates and lowering operational costs, as we are always looking for improvements in our systems and processes. "From what we’re seeing in the market and from our ongoing negotiations, the demand for Metro bauxite is returning, and confidence is returning to the market more widely.” The company has scheduled April 19 as the restart date for 2021. The initial 2.3 million WMT to be produced this year is committed under Metro’s longstanding contract with Xinfa and Metro said negotiations for additional sales for 2021 and beyond were progressing well. Related: Metro holds positive bauxite outlook for 2021 "Last year Metro’s 4.0M WMT target was thwarted by the worldwide impact of COVID 19 on market conditions across the aluminium supply chain," the company said in an update today. "Despite record mining and shipping rates, and lower operational costs, the mine was forced into an early wet season shutdown in September." Stage 2 expansion remains in focus The company remains focused on its planned Stage 2 expansion to an annual production rate of 6 million WMT from Bauxite Hills. The largest component of the Stage 2 Expansion is the construction and mobilisation of a floating terminal enabling faster loading of larger ocean-going vessels. Financing for the majority of capital involved in Stage 2 is covered through a $47.5 million Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan. This was signed last year and Metro said the financial close sunset date for the loan facility had recently been extended to September 30 this year.

Metro set for April restart at Bauxite Hills

Industry Queensland

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