Alurion Resources Limited (ASX:ALU) has released the findings of an independent road-logistics study for its Amargosa bauxite project in the Brazilian state of Bahia, which the company said supports its planned road-to-port export route at volumes up to double those assumed in its Scoping Study.

According to the announcement, released on 6 October 2026, the study by transport-engineering consultancy Engimind found road haulage viable at all tested capacities up to 11.5 wet million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), with no road-capacity constraints found.

What the study assessed

Alurion commissioned Engimind to assess whether the Bahia public road network between Amargosa and the Port of Enseada could support a range of bauxite export volumes. Three scenarios were modelled: the Scoping Study base case of 5.75 wet Mtpa, plus 8.6 and 11.5 wet Mtpa.

Engimind measured existing traffic, projected future growth and added Amargosa truck movements under each scenario, and simulated the haulage cycle and loading-yard operations.

The preferred routes connect the project's North and Central districts to Enseada mostly via the BR-101 federal highway, over distances of approximately 160km and 220km respectively. The company said Alurion trucks are expected to represent less than 1% of total vehicles on the corridor at 5.75 Mtpa, rising to 1.6% at 11.5 Mtpa.

Engimind identified a preferred seven-axle truck configuration with a gross combination weight of 59 tonnes. Loading terminals are planned in each district, with site selection underway.

Port and rail options

Alurion said it is leading engineering studies, with input from the port operator, on configurations that could lift Enseada's export capacity to up to 13.5 wet Mtpa. The Scoping Study was based on exports of 5 Mtpa on a dry basis, equivalent to the 5.75 wet Mtpa road case.

The study also assessed an 86km southern road connection from the Central District to the site of a proposed rail load-out on the FIOL railway, which would link to the planned Porto Sul port. The company said this could support up to 11.5 wet Mtpa and might avoid the approximately 40km dedicated rail spur envisaged in the Scoping Study.

Chief Executive Maurício Noronha said the study "provides independent validation for the road-capacity assumptions" in Amargosa's planning. He added that the base case "remains road haulage to Enseada", and that the southern option "depends on completion of FIOL and Porto Sul and securing commercial access".

Context and caveats

The company said the road study is the first completed workstream of a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) targeted for mid-2027, with drilling, trenching and metallurgical programmes scheduled from the fourth quarter of 2026.

The announcement includes substantial qualifications. Alurion stated that the 5.75, 8.625 and 11.5 wet Mtpa figures are road-logistics capacity scenarios and "are not production targets, production forecasts or statements of intent". The same applies to the potential 13.5 wet Mtpa port capacity. The Scoping Study was prepared to an accuracy of plus or minus 35%, and its Production Target comprises approximately 89% Indicated and 11% Inferred Mineral Resources. No Ore Reserve has been estimated.

The company also noted that FIOL and Porto Sul are uncompleted third-party infrastructure in which Alurion holds no access rights or capacity allocation. Port access at Enseada remains subject to commercial agreement with the operator.

Analysis: For a bulk Commodity such as bauxite, logistics weigh heavily on economics, so independent confirmation of road capacity reduces one uncertainty ahead of the PFS. However, the study addresses capacity, not cost; mine-to-port Capital and operating estimates are still to be updated in the PFS, and project development would require additional funding.