South32’s Worsley receives key approval

Worsley Alumina in WA has received federal environmental approval for the Worsley Mine Development Project under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).
This follows South32’s (ASX: S32) appeal of the WA EPA’s recommendations for the Worsley mine expansion in July 2024.
The federal approval is subject to conditions which are substantively consistent with the state environmental approval received on December 20, 2024.
The development project will enable access to bauxite to sustain production at Worsley Alumina, with mining of bauxite areas located near existing operations expected to commence in Q4 FY25. South32 will now also commence the development of new mining areas that are expected to sustain production to at least FY36.
South 32 chief executive Graham Kerr says 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.
“Worsley Alumina has been operating for more than 40 years and is one of the largest employers in the region, supporting jobs for thousands of workers and contractors.
“The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has awarded Worsley Alumina multiple certifications against its global standards for responsible production of alumina, a vital component in the production of aluminium which is a metal critical to the global energy transition.
“We look forward to executing the project in accordance with the approvals granted by the Federal and WA governments.”