12th Feb 2025 06:54
(Alliance News) - South32 Ltd said on Wednesday the Australian government has approved the expansion of its alumina refining operation Worsley.
The federal endorsement come after Western Australia okayed the new Worsley project late in December last year.
The Perth-based mining group said on Wednesday Worsley Alumina has received Federal environmental approval for the Worsley Mine Development Project.
The federal approval is subject to conditions which are substantively consistent with the state environmental approval received in December, South32 said.
The new project will enable access to bauxite to sustain production at Worsley Alumina, with mining of bauxite areas located near its existing operations expected to start in fourth quarter of its 2025 financial year.
South32 will now start the development of new mining areas that are expected to sustain production to at least 2036 financial year.
"The Federal Government's approval of the Worsley Mine Development Project is a positive outcome for Worsley Alumina and its workforce, the Peel and South West communities, and the local economy," South32 Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr said.
"We look forward to executing the project in accordance with the approvals granted by the Federal and Western Australian governments," Kerr said.
Th project ran into setback when the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority in July last recommended the Worsley project be approved, subject to conditions.
South32 then appealed this recommendation, arguing that several proposed conditions would create operating challenges, and went beyond reasonable measures for managing environmental risks.
By Artwell Dlamini, Alliance News reporter
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