Alcoa announced September 13 that it has received formal environmental approval by the
The Wagerup expansion plan involves building a third production unit at the refinery and upgrading the existing plant to improve efficiency and environmental outcomes. It would increase alumina production capacity from 2.6 million tons a year to 4.7 mtpy.
"The Wagerup refinery already meets the most stringent health and environmental standards in the world and the extremely rigorous conditions placed on the project by the Environmental Protection Agency provides confidence the expansion was safe and responsible," said Alcoa of Australia managing director Wayne Osborn.
Since 1998, Alcoa has spent more than A$40 million on new technologies and other improvements at the refinery to reduce emissions. These have made Wagerup the most environmentally advanced alumina refinery in the world.
In addition, Alcoa will continue scientific data collection through construction of additional meteorological and air monitoring facilities at the refinery - at a cost of approximately A$1.5 million. Alcoa has already begun a 12- to 18-month program of additional data collection to satisfy conditions associated with the Ministerial approval, as recommended by the EPA.
"Alcoa has committed to implementing the expansion with no increase in environmental impacts and extensive scientific investigations have shown both the existing and expanded refinery is safe for our employees and neighboring communities," Osborn said.
