The Company is leading the development of responsible and sustainable mining across phosphate, aluminium, gold, copper and critical minerals. It owns the largest and most efficient vertically integrated aluminium complex in the world. 

The alumina refinery uses the Bayer Process and leverages high-temperature caustic soda to extract valuable components from bauxite. A rise in the silica content of the bauxite causes significant economic and environmental downside, such as:

- High caustic soda consumption

- Increased operational costs

- Highly corrosive red mud (bauxite waste) produced as a result

Although this challenge is particularly associated with low-grade bauxite, the variable impurity levels in the bauxite feed compound elevate cost and environmental issues.

Low TRL solutions have been trialled to:

- Remove silica ahead of the Bayer process through using bio-solvents and silica pre-leaching

- Recovering the caustic soda from red mud

A proven solution that can be implemented in the immediate term is needed to alleviate this challenge.

The Company is seeking suitable proven solutions to decrease the silica content in the bauxite feed and reduce operational costs and environmental impacts linked to caustic soda consumption.

The goals of the project are:

1. Reduce silica content in the bauxite by between 40 – 50% of current levels to a target bandwidth of 6 – 8%.
2. Optimise the silica content in the bauxite feed to reduce caustic soda consumption.
3. Minimise changes in the mineral composition caused by the pre-treatment to prevent challenges arising in the downstream process related to a possible increase in the contents of other impurities.
4. Acceptable integration with the existing process flow.

A desilication process is usually used to treat high-silica bauxite before the Bayer process. However, operational restrictions prevent implementing this approach.

The solution must also fulfil the following requirements:

- The solution must be at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above.

- There should be no additional refining or grinding employed throughout the process.

- Minimise removal of valuable alumina.

Phase 1 - Submission Period

Suppliers are invited to submit their short-form solution to the challenge by Tuesday 17 December 2024 for evaluation by Austmine and The Company.  

The solution submission questions can be viewed here.

A shortlisting process takes place and successful companies are invited to participate in phase 2.

Phase 2 - Evaluation Period
Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to a technical briefing, where each supplier will be able to gain more information about the challenge. This will allow you to refine your proposed solution prior to the Pitch Session.

Following the technical briefing, suppliers will pitch their solution directly to The Company online. This is the opportunity to ‘sell’ your solution and gain feedback from operational teams, presenting directly to the Company team.

Phase 3 - Full Proposal Submission
Following the Pitch Session, a final shortlisting of suppliers takes place. The remaining suppliers are invited to submit their formal technical and economic proposals.

Winner Announced
The Company will select the best fit solution/s for the challenge and the supplier will work directly with them to trial the technology and implement the solution. 

Unsuccessful submitters are notified in writing by Austmine.

Submission deadline - Tuesday 17 December 2024

Technical briefing - Wednesday 22 January 2025

Pitch sessions - Wednesday 29 January 2025

Final proposal deadline - Wednesday 12 February 2025