Friday, May 25, 2007
Bauxite Bonanza For Browse Gas Fields
Source : UPSTREAM
A major potential customer has emerged on the doorstep of undeveloped gas fields in Australia's offshore Browse basin as Norway's Norsk Hydro and Australia's United Minerals Corporation (UMC) teamed up to develop an integrated bauxite mine and alumina refinery in the area. The facility will be sited in Western Australia's Kimberley region close to Inpex's Ichthys gas fields and Woodside's Browse fields. UMC said the project could cost A$4 billion to A$5 billion (US$3.3 billion to US$4.2) including the associated infrastructure. "Success will depend on achieving a large and reliable supply of bauxite at an acceptable grade and an equally large and reliable supply of gas at commercially viable prices," said the company. "The potential for a substantial integrated bauxite mine and alumina refinery is heavily driven by forthcoming developments of gas projects which have been announced for the Browse Basin off the Kimberley coast. The WA government has created the policy framework to ensure that sufficient reserves of gas from these projects are dedicated to onshore domestic use," UMC said
Source : UPSTREAM
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