Cape York bauxite producer Metro Mining has achieved a calendar-year record production and sales milestone of 4 million tonnes.

It comes as its Bauxite Hills mine at the Skardon River ramps up towards a 7Mtpa production rate next year through a $31.9 million expansion project.

“It is exciting to announce that we have reached 4Mt, which puts our 2023 sales target of 4.5 – 5Mt well within reach,” Metro Mining chief executive officer and managing director Simon Wensley said.

“The Metro team, together with our contract partners, have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. The rates currently being achieved provide high confidence that the 7 Mtpa production rate will be achieved in 2024.”

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This week saw an official renaming ceremony held in Shenzhen, China for the company’s offshore floating terminal – a key element in the plan to step up capacity at Bauxite Hills.

The refurbished vessel’s new name, Ikamba, means saltwater crocodile in the Ankamuthi language.

Metro said this was representative of its commitment to foster a meaningful relationship with the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Bauxite Hills mine operates.

The naming ceremony was attended by three Ankamuthi elders – Dale Salee, Charles Woosup and Anna Tamwoy.

The naming ceremony (pictured below) signifies the nearing completion of the Ikamba’s refurbishment activities, and it will soon be ready to depart China for mobilisation to Australia.