Gulkula, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is home to the first bauxite mine owned and operated by the Gumatj, one of the Yolngu clans of Northeast Arnhem Land.
“You might be looking at the proudest man on earth,” says Traditional Owner Djawa Yunupingu.
Djawa is one of the driving forces behind the establishment of his people’s first bauxite mine. The bauxite is mined and then sold to Rio Tinto for export both nationally and internationally.
The Gulkula Regional Training Centre was also developed with A$2.4 million in funding from Rio Tinto. It provides on-the-job training to the Yolngu people to build careers in the mining industry in the Northern Territory and beyond.
The Gulkula Regional Training Centre was also established by the Gumatj Corporation with A$2.4 million of the required funding from Rio Tinto. It provides on-the-job training to the Yolngu people to build careers in the mining industry in the Northern Territory and beyond.
Rio Tinto has seen this local partnership evolve and is now a customer of the Gulkula mine.
Other notes:
- In 2018, Rio Tinto became a proud customer of the Gulkula Mine, Australia’s first 100% Indigenous-owned bauxite mine.
- Gulkula is home to the first bauxite mine owned and operated by the Gumatj, one of the Yolngu clans of North East Arnhem Land.
- In 2017, Rio Tinto signed a bauxite sales agreement with the Gumatj Corporation, to purchase bauxite from their Gulkula mine. In May 2018, the first ore from this mine was shipped from Rio Tinto’s port directly to China.
- On 13 May 2018, Rio Tinto was privileged to witness the first tonnes of Gulkula bauxite being exported for China alongside Gumatj Senior Traditional Owner Djawa Yunupingu.
