Commercial Bauxite Shipment To China A Historic First For Bauxite Resources Limited (ASX:BAU) And Western Australia
Perth, Nov 13, 2009 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Bauxite Resources Limited (ASX:BAU)(PINK:BXRDF) is extremely pleased to announce the loading at Kwinana Port today of its maiden shipment of the Company's Darling Range bauxite. This 43,000 ton shipment is the first of three trial spot shipments of run of mine (ROM) Darling Range low reactive silica bauxite destined for delivery to a major Chinese alumina refinery customer.
BRL is particularly pleased with the excellent grade and characteristics of the bauxite shipment which are well in excess of the contractual specifications. The contractual specifications have been exceeded from ROM bauxite. BRL is conducting extensive studies to further improve the quality of its bauxite for DSO operations. The Company expects to introduce beneficiation in the near future to improve the quality of its bauxite to enable the end user refineries to further reduce waste and operating costs.
The loading and departure of the 43,000 ton Handimax vessel, Tai Shan Hai, at Fremantle Port Authority, Kwinana B bulk Berth 2, marks a historic occasion for both BRL and the State of Western Australia.
This shipment is the first commercial export of bauxite from the Darling Range and the State of Western Australia.
At a ceremony on board the vessel yesterday attended by various delegations and representatives, BRL's Managing Director, Mr Daniel Tenardi paid tribute to all those that had worked on the project.
"The Company commenced drilling in early January 2009, we commenced mining at our starter pit on 6 August 2009 and in less than two years we have secured the shipments of a new bauxite product into China."
"Today marks a historic day for both the Company and the State of Western Australia. BRL's staff have worked tirelessly to take advantage of an opportunity in the global bauxite market to introduce Darling Range bauxite to the rapidly expanding Chinese market. This market has only recently become aware of the attributes and benefits of Darling Range bauxite with its low reactive silica, negligible boehmite and gibbsitic nature a major factor in making the four existing Darling Range refineries amongst the most profitable and lowest cost operators in the world," said Mr Tenardi.
The BRL technical marketing team, lead by internationally recognised chemist Mr Ben Ziegelaar, will continue to market and espouse the virtues and attributes of Darling Range bauxite. These include the reduced refining costs resulting from low reactive silica that translates directly to the refinery customer as a saving in the order of US$15.00 per ton for every percentage point reduction in caustic soda use. In this first shipment the reactive silica averages less than 2.5% with a world class total alumina level averaging over 50%.
About Bauxite Resources Limited
Bauxite Resources (ASX:BAU) (OTCMKTS:BXRDF) was established with a substantial tenement holding in Western Australia to develop new bauxite supply for the global alumina/aluminium industry. The Company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in October 2007.
The Darling Range in the south-west of Western Australia (WA) is the world's largest bauxite mining and alumina refining region producing around 20% of the world's alumina. This area has mined bauxite and refined alumina since the 1960s. These industries are leaders in sustainable resource development and represent the fifth largest sector of WA's resource industry.
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