The federal government of Australia is considering a bold proposal which reflects to see a portion of an alumina refinery in the northern territory be reprocessed into a strategic fuel storage facility, as reported by industry sources.
The intents are to see the tanks at the Rio Tinto refinery transforms with a storage capacity of up to 160 megalitres of fuel as the government strives to shore up domestic supply chains in the northern parts of the country.
Rio Tinto’s Gove bauxite mine at Nhulunbuy is all set to close within 2030, while the company is preparing to commence pulling down the refinery next year.
Darwin’s airport development group and the Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation, the team which is working with Rio Tinto on the refinery’s demolition have brought the proposal on board.
However, the locals have already raised disquiet in regards to the closedown of the mining activity, which would bring a heavy impact in the town that serves as a service hub for around 14,000 people residing in the indigenous communities.
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