Australian Bauxite Ltd. made an application to the state government for the start of its Binjour bauxite project in the Wide Bay Burnett region of central Queensland.

The application includes the start of bulk sampling of 500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes of bauxite and preparation of marketing samples for the preferred off-take customer.

The company will also conduct trials of the mining and crushing equipment and dry-screening and wet screening methods, and select the optimum process flow-sheet.

By June 30, 2018, Australian Bauxite will undertake ship simulations to determine the maximum ship size that could operate at the Port of Bundaberg using loading techniques currently used in similar ports overseas.

Bulk shipping costs are critical for the economic viability of the project, the company noted Aug. 8.

Australian Bauxite CEO Ian Levy said that the company's marketing partner, Rawmin, has started negotiations with potential customers in several countries.