Environmental Management
Environmental management is a key aspect for all Alcoa operations, as reflected in Alcoa’s Sustainability Principles.
The Pinjarra Refinery Efficiency Upgrade is underpinned by these sustainability principles which guide the way Alcoa plans, constructs and operates its facilities through economic, social and environmental goal setting.
Accordingly, Alcoa has developed and implemented a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) for the Pinjarra Refinery, which was certified to the ISO 14001 EMS Standard in February 2001 and successfully re-certified in 2004.
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of alumina and plans to increase alumina production capacity at the Pinjarra refinery to 4.2 million tonnes per annum, an increase of 600,000 tonnes per annum. This is a 17 per cent increase in annual alumina production. The Pinjarra Refinery Efficiency Upgrade will achieve this growth by improving the efficiency of the Bayer liquor circuit, utilising existing equipment as much as possible.
The efficiency upgrade will provide several positive environmental outcomes, such as:
a reduction in volatile organic compounds and particulate emissions; lower greenhouse gas emission intensity; a reduction in residue dust, and the opportunity to introduce a recycled water supply.
Environmental approval
Alcoa has received approval from the State Environment Minister Judy Edwards to proceed with the Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade on 6 February 2004. This came after the recommendations from the WA Environmental Protection Authority. The Department of Environment subsequently gave the green light to the Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade, with Works Approval awarded on 19 April 2004. Below is an outline of the approval process Alcoa has been following.
Community involvement
Alcoa has sought community involvement in the planning and approval process for the efficiency upgrade at Alcoa's Pinjarra refinery. Alcoa has engaged stakeholders in the early stages of project development and design and actively sought their advice and input into the environmental, social and economic aspects of the project.
To find out more about how Alcoa has involved stakeholders throughout the project development and government approvals phase visit Consultation Process.
Original agreement act
State government approval for the Pinjarra refinery was granted in 1969 under the Alumina Refinery (Pinjarra) Agreement Act 1969. While this act predates the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the refinery and associated mining activities operate subject to various environmental approvals and consents.
After assessing an environmental impact statement, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) released its recommendations to the Minister for Environment and Heritage relating to its assessment of the Pinjarra Refinery Efficiency Upgrade at the level of Environmental Protection Statement (EPS). Management of environmental issues are being dealt with by the Ministerial Conditions and Proponent’s Commitments arising from the EPS process, together with the Works Approval conditions issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
Environmental Protection Statement
In November 2003, Alcoa submitted an Environmental Protection Statement to the Environmental Protection Authority for the proposed Pinjarra Refinery Efficiency Upgrade.
The Environmental Protection Statement (EPS) assists the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to assess the environmental aspects of the project and provide recommendations to the Minister on how these can be managed for the protection of the environment.
Environment Protection Statement - Alcoa
 more
Appendix A - Air
[5560 KB]
Appendix A - Air Expert Review
[211 KB]
Appendix B - HRA Toxikos
[1157 KB]
Appendix B - HRA Expert Review
[76 KB]
Appendix C - Noise Expert Review
[355 KB]
Appendix C - Noise Modelling Report
[243 KB]
Appendix C - Noise Monitoring Report HSA
[355 KB]
Appendix D - Stakeholder Consultation
[118 KB]
Appendix E - Upgrade Updates
[551 KB]
Environmental Approval Process
[190 KB]
Viewing documents in PDF format requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download from the Adobe Web site.
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State Environment Minister Judy Edwards announces Alcoa's Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade can proceed
Environment Minister Judy Edwards said Alcoa would now be able to increase its alumina production at Pinjarra by 600,000 tonnes per year, or 17 per cent.
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Environmental Protection Statement
The Environmental Protection Authority released its recommendations for the proposed Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade in its Environmental Protection Statement in December 2003. These recommendations were developed in consultation with government agencies, environmental interest groups and industry groups with a direct interest in the project as well as other key stakeholders.
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Alcoa welcomes EPA's recommendations for Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade
Alcoa World Alumina Australia has welcomed the Environment Protection Authority’s recommendations in assessing the $440 million Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade at the level of Environmental Protection Statement (EPS).
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