They had to raise the silica cut off significantly to achieve...

They had to raise the silica cut off significantly to achieve the piddly 1.9Mt indicated 'resource' from the 30Mt inferred 'resource' bud. If Alcoa ever direct ship any ore from the Darling Ranges you can rest assured it's their premium bauxite with way better specs than Sth Johnstone. All that ore from 50 years of mining has gone straight into their refineries built next to the mines for a reason. And besides, if you think Chinese Ports are "a lot closer" to Sth Johnstone your globe is busted/munted.

Nothing is 'guaranteed' and if he believes that then he's just plain stupid. The Chinese refineries sure don't.