Mine & Conveyor
Worsley is expanding its bauxite mining around Boddington, 120km south-east of Perth, as part of the Expansion Project.
Mining is moving into the Marradong Timber Reserve and farmland on the southern outskirts of Boddington, 12km north of Worsley’s existing mining operations at Saddleback. Worsley’s annual bauxite production capacity will increase from 13.1 to 16.6 million tonnes (dry).
New mine infrastructure at Marradong will include a crushing and screening plant and a conveyor to take bauxite from Marradong to Saddleback. There it will join the existing 51km overland conveyor which links to the company’s alumina refinery, near Collie.
Worsley’s overland conveyor is one of the longest continuous conveyor systems in the world. The expansion will increase its capacity to 2870 tonnes (dry) of bauxite per hour. The bauxite stockpile at the refinery will also be increased and the associated equipment upgraded.
Mining in Marradong has been planned since the late 1980s. Detailed fauna and flora studies have been undertaken to protect high value conservation areas and species. Detailed management plans will be drawn up for issues such as noise, dust, blasting and visual amenity.
