BHP Billiton is to further expand its manganese operation at Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia.
The company says the $A254 million expansion will increase production from 4.2 to 4.8 million tonnes of ore per year.
It will also increase road and port capacity to be able to handle 5.9 million tonnes per year to make room for future production increases.
BHP Billiton owns a 60% share of the GEMCO operation on Groote Eylandt.
The ABC reports the project is the second phase of expansion at GEMCO. An earlier stage began in April 2009.
