Papua's Purari River May

Yet Be Harnessed

According to reports published on page 45 of November PIM, the plan to establish a giant alumina re finery at Hall Sound (between Yule Islands and the mainland of Papua) in the Gulf of Papua, was out of favour.

It was stated that the expert ad visers of Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation had recommended the use of the Blair Athol coalfield, in Central Queensland, for the genera tion of massive electricity for the refining of alumina at giant works at Broad Sound, on the Queensland coast between Mackay and Rock hampton.

This meant that the alumina from the Weipa River fleld on the Gulf of Carpentaria, would be carried by ship around York Peninsula to Broad Sound, instead of directly across Torres Strait to Hall Sound, It now is reported that the ex perts have gone back for another look at the Papuan proposition— namely, that the Purari River should be harnessed, and the hydro electric power carried by landline from the river across to Hall Sound.

Many millions of pounds are in volved in this huge plan, so no hasty decision is expected. The choice evidently lies between Papua’s hydro-electric power from the Purari River, and coal-generated power from Central Queensland’s Blair Athol field.