New Plan Apparently

That Alumina Refinery

New Plan Apparently Cuts Out Papua

According to reports, the Commonwealth Aluminium Cor poration ( Comalco) has gone cold on the proposal—hitherto in favour —that the partly treated bauxite ( alumina) from the Weipa River area (in the Gulf of Carpentaria, at the base of York Peninsula ) should be carried across Torres Strait, for final refinement.

IT was proposed that the Purari River (from Central New Guinea) should be harnessed near the Gulf of Papua; that the hydro-electric power be carried across country to refining works at Hall Sound (between Yule Island and the coast of Papua); and that the alumina should be shipped directly from Weipa to Hall Sound.

This was at first considered a better scheme than that of generat ing massive electric power, for the final smelting, from the coal of the Blair Athol field, in Central Queensland.

It now is argued that the Purari River is generallv unsuitable, and that there could be a “defence risk” in placing the refinery on the Papuan coast.

Broad Sound, on the Queensland coast between Mackay and Rock hampton, and about 130 miles due east of the Blair Athol coalfield, now is under consideration as a suitable refinery port. It is suggested that Flock Pigeon Island, in Broad Sound, near St. Lawrence, would be a suitable site for an alumina refinery.

Trebles the Distance The alumina presumably would have to be brought right around York Peninsula by sea, trebling the distance between Weipa and the Papua coast. It might be possible to build railways to complete a rail link between Weipa and Cairns.

The airline distance between the Weipa area and Broad Sound is about 600 miles.

It is stated that Comalco is investigating the plan to generate power on the Blair Athol coalfield, and that drilling of the coal seams is proceeding,

"Idea Impracticable

* +. it. »fVxn, A suggestion that the Blair Athol power might be taken across country to Bowen, and the refinery established there, was declared 1^ P df«ftancp l6 than Athol to Broad Sound (130 miles) would be too costly.

The plan to establish the alumina refinery at Hall Sound, which would have been of great economic help to Papua, apparently is out of favour.