The Sunrise bauxite project is forging ahead, with Onterris Australia appointed to progress key environmental approvals for the Binjour mine, about 115km south-west of Bundaberg.

The project is being advanced by ABx Group through its subsidiary ABx3, in partnership with Good Importing International (GII)

ABx said GII had already invested $2.7 million to acquire a 70 per cent interest in ABx3 and had decided to prioritise Sunrise over other projects

It has allowed its exclusive option to invest $4.8 million to acquire a 75 per cent interest in ABx2, which holds the Taralga and Penrose bauxite assets in NSW, to expire.

“The appointment of Onterris as the environmental approvals consultant represents another important step in advancing the Sunrise project,” ABx Group managing director and chief executive officer Mark Cooksey said.

“We are looking forward to the process being complete in 2027.

“GII has elected to initially focus on the Sunrise project, where it has already invested $2.7 million and where we continue to make good progress through the approvals process.

“The decision to prioritise the Sunrise project will see GII’s capital and management resources intensify on that project.”

Onterris Australia will carry out work including preparation and delivery of the site-specific environmental authority (SSEA) and progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRCP).

The Sunrise bauxite project boasts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 37 million tonnes of gibbsite-type metallurgical bauxite at Binjour, together with proposed port operations at Bundaberg.