Alcoa Worldwide Alumina Refining Capacity 

 

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of alumina. Alcoa’s alumina refining facilities and its worldwide alumina capacity are shown in the following table:

 

 

As reported in March 2012

Country Facility Owners
(% of Ownership)		 Nameplate
Capacity1
(000 MTPY)		 Alcoa
Consolidated
Capacity2
(000 MTPY)
Australia
 		Kwinana
Pinjarra
Wagerup 		AofA3 (100%)
AofA (100%)
AofA (100%)		 2,190
4,234
2,555		 2,190
4,234
2,555
Brazil
 		Poços de Caldas 
São Luís(Alumar)  		Alumínio4 (100%)
AwA Brasil3 (39%)
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.5 (10%)
Alumínio (15%)
BHP Billiton5 (36%)		 390 
3,500 		 390
1,890
Jamaica
 		Jamalco Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica, L.L.C.3 (55%)
Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd.6 (45%)		 1,478 841
Spain
 		San Ciprián Alúmina Española, S.A.3 (100%) 1,500 1,500
Suriname
 		Suralco Suralco3 (55%)
AMS7 (45%)		 2,2078 2,207
US
 		Point Comfort, TX Alcoa World Alumina LLC3 (100%) 2,3059 2,305
Total 20,359 18,112

1 Nameplate Capacity is an estimate based on design capacity and normal operating efficiencies and does not necessarily represent maximum possible production.
2 The figures in this column reflect Alcoa’s share of production from these facilities. For facilities wholly-owned by AWAC entities, Alcoa takes 100% of the production.
3 This entity is part of the AWAC group of companies and is owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.
4 This entity is owned 100% by Alcoa.
5 The named company or an affiliate holds this interest.
6 Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd. is wholly-owned by the Government of Jamaica.
7 AWA LLC owns 100% of N.V. Alcoa Minerals of Suriname (AMS). AWA LLC is part of the AWAC group of companies and is owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.
8 In May 2009, the Suralco alumina refinery announced curtailment of 870,000 mtpy. The decision was made to protect the long-term viability of the industry in Suriname. The curtailment was aimed at deferring further bauxite extraction until additional in-country bauxite resources are developed and market conditions for alumina improve. The refinery currently has approximately 793,000 mtpy of idle capacity.
9 Reductions in production at Point Comfort resulted mostly from the effects of curtailments initiated in late 2008 through early 2009, as a result of overall market conditions. The reductions included curtailments of approximately 1,500,000 mtpy. Of that original amount, 384,000 mtpy remain curtailed.

 

 

As noted above, Alcoa and Ma’aden entered into an agreement that involves the development of an alumina refinery in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Initial capacity of the refinery is expected to be 1.8 million mtpy. First production is expected in 2014. For additional information regarding the joint venture, see the Equity Investments section of Note I to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8. (Financial Statements and Supplementary Data).

 

The 2.1 million mtpy expansion of the Alumar consortium alumina refinery in São Luís, Maranhão, completed by the end of 2009, has increased the refinery’s nameplate capacity to approximately 3.5 million mtpy, with Alcoa’s share of such capacity more than doubling to 1.89 million mtpy based on its 54% ownership stake through Alumínio and AWAC.

 

In November 2005, Alcoa World Alumina LLC (AWA LLC) and Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. signed a Basic Agreement with the Government of Guinea that sets forth the framework for development of a 1.5 million mtpy alumina refinery in Guinea. In 2006, the Basic Agreement was approved by the Guinean National Assembly and was promulgated into law. The Basic Agreement was originally set to expire in November 2008, but has been extended to November 2012.Pre-feasibility studies were completed in 2008. Additional feasibility study work was completed in 2011, and further activities are planned for 2012.

 

In September 2006, Alcoa received environmental approval from the Government of Western Australia for expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery to a maximum capacity of 4.7 million mtpy, a potential increase of over 2 million mtpy. This approval has a term of 5 years and included environmental conditions that must be satisfied before Alcoa can seek construction approval for the project. The project was suspended in November 2008 due to global economic conditions and the unavailability of a secure long-term energy supply in Western Australia. These constraints continue and as such the project remains under suspension. Alcoa is therefore seeking an extension of the 2006 environmental approval for the expansion for a further 5 years, with a formal determination expected in spring of 2012.

 

In 2008, AWAC signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam National Coal-Minerals Industries Group (Vinacomin) in which they agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study of the Gia Nghia bauxite mine and alumina refinery project located in Dak Nong Province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, with first stage capacity expected to be between 1.0 and 1.5 million mtpy. The cooperation between AWAC and Vinacomin on Gia Nghia is subject to approval by the Government of Vietnam. If established, the Gia Nghia venture is expected to be 51% owned by Vinacomin, 40% by AWAC and 9% by others.