Environment Improvement Plan
Alcoa Anglesea produces an Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which guides its environmental management through a process of continuous improvement.
The EIP sets targets and actions for the year and outlines environmental issues such as air management, water management, waste management and land management at Anglesea.
Anglesea EIP - published 2008  go
Environmental Improvement Plans
Alcoa is committed to the highest standards of environmental performance. We have taken a voluntary global leadership position on addressing climate change and are reducing greenhouse emissions through energy efficiency, productivity improvements and technological innovation.
In line with this global commitment, Alcoa releases Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs) bi-annually. EIPs represent Alcoa’s public commitment to continuously improve environmental performance, reduce environmental impacts and develop more sustainable operating practices. We are proud that some of the targets outlined in many of our EIPs go beyond our formal licence conditions.
We work closely with the Community Consultation Networks in which we operate, to establish targets for environmental improvement and subsequently devise actions to achieve those targets. Local and State Government representatives and environmental regulators also have significant input into our EIPs.
The EIPs deliver improved transparency and accountability and cover areas such as:
• Air quality, including greenhouse gas and energy efficiency
• Waste management
• Water conservation
• Groundwater management
• Land management, including visual amenity, rehabilitation, and fauna/flora management
• Community involvement
• Environmental regulation.
Across Australia, EIPs are now an important part of Alcoa’s business plans for each of our operational sites.
Click here to view more EIPs across Alcoa Australia.
If you would like more information about the Alcoa Anglesea EIP, please contact us.
Alternative fuel trials for Alcoa Anglesea
During the second half of 2010, Alcoa will be undertaking and monitoring the results of two alternative fuel trials at Anglesea Power Station.
The two projects complement Alcoa’s strategic sustainability targets around conserving resources, sustaining operations and reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Soy-based biodiesel trial
A four-month trial of a soy-based biodiesel product at the Anglesea mining operations commenced on June 1.
The product will be used to operate the earthmoving fleet, in a bid to further reduce greenhouse emissions across the site.
Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to petroleum based diesel fuel. It is manufactured from virgin vegetable oils such as soy and canola; tropical seeds such as palm and coconut oil; used cooking oils and animal fats. High quality Biodiesel can be directly substituted for petroleum diesel. It is simple to use, non-toxic and essentially free of sulphur and aromatics.
Using a high quality Biodiesel will require no modifications to the engine or to existing storage and delivery infrastructure. Biodiesel is proven to reduce harmful emissions associated with petroleum diesel.
Soybiodiesel® is the direct result and by-product of soybean processing. It is made from soyoil removed as a by product during the processing of soybean into high-protein animal feed.
Update - July 16, 2010
The Soy-based bio-diesel alternative fuel trial is progressing well with no reports of equipment or other issues. Alcoa will continue to monitor the project for the remaining 12 weeks of the alternative fuel trial.
At the conclusion of the four month trial, a project evaluation will occur to determine if Alcoa Anglesea will permanently switch the mine’s equipment to B20 Soydiesel. This evaluation will look at the environmental benefits, any impacts of using the product in the mining fleet and long term supply of the soy-based biodiesel.
Read more about the soy-based biodiesel trial in the May environment report. To ask a question of an Alcoa representative about the soy-based biodiesel trial email angleseaps@alcoa.com.au.
HiCAL40 alternative fuel trial
Since 2008, Alcoa has been investigating the trial of an alternative carbon-based fuel at its Anglesea operation. The trial has received EPA approval and will see 0.5% of the current coal input replaced with a carbon-based fuel known as HiCAL40. It is planned to commence in the second half of 2010 during an outage on the power station’s boiler when technical equipment required for the alternative fuel trial evaluation processes can be installed.
One of Alcoa’s strategic sustainability targets is to recycle or reuse 75% of remaining waste streams by 2020 and 100% by 2030. Alcoa has achieved a 60% reduction in waste to landfill at Anglesea since 2000 and its Victorian Operations are Gold Waste Wise Certified through Sustainability Victoria for its efforts to minimise waste and maximise the efficient use of valuable resources. HiCAL40 is an alternative fuel manufactured from Spent Pot Lining (SPL), a previously landfilled waste. Many millions of dollars have been spent transforming the waste into a valuable product via a thermal treatment process pioneered at Alcoa’s Point Henry Operations.
The alternative fuel is already successfully used in other industries and provides a range of technical and environmental benefits. The success of these projects have led Alcoa to believe there is scope for a trial at Anglesea and the potential to develop new markets for the product. The HiCAL40 product will be transported via road to Alcoa Anglesea from the EPA licensed processing facility at Alcoa’s Point Henry operations. It is not a dangerous good and does not require any special transport requirements.
Alcoa has applied and received an EPA Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) permit to conduct the trial. As part of this permit, extensive analysis, modelling and testing was required in order to demonstrate compliance with the State’s strict ambient air guidelines that exist to protect the health of humans, flora and fauna. Modelling undertaken as part of this process took into consideration the whole of the Anglesea township and power station surrounds. Further testing is planned following the start of the trial to verify the modelling estimates.
The Alternative Fuel Trial reflects a change in the traditional process at Alcoa Anglesea and as such, community briefings on the project commenced in the early development stages of the proposed trial. This included a one-hour presentation at the June 2010 Community Consultation Network (CCN) meeting. Further briefings and presentations have also been provided to interested community persons and will continue prior to and throughout the trial. Interested persons can watch for updates on www.alcoa.com.au/anglesea or contact our Community Relations Officer on 03 5263 4249 and angleseaps@alcoa.com.au.
Update - July 16, 2010
The proposed HiCal 40 Alternative fuel trial is not yet active and remains on-hold while Alcoa continues its review into a range of technical and environmental, health and safety (EHS) aspects of the project.
The trial was originally intended to start in the second half of 2010 but no firm start date for the project has been agreed to with the Victorian EPA while the review continues.
Alcoa remains keen to undertake the trial and play our role in identifying and investigating projects to complement Alcoa’s strategic sustainability targets around conserving resources, sustaining operations and reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
HiCal 40 Alternative fuel trial update 5 August
Alcoa has advised the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that it has cancelled the proposed HiCal 40 alternative fuel trial.
Alcoa’s strategic sustainability targets had provided the original business case for the trial but the discovery of a data error during a management review meant the project had officially been on-hold some time.
The continuing review into the data error indicated that a range of new and unplanned design modifications would be required for us to deliver Alcoa’s sustainability objectives for this project.
Community and stakeholder input had been considered when making the decision.
HiCAL40 Fuel Trial - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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EIP Status Reports
2009 Status Report Q4 summary
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2009 Status Report Q3 summary
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2009 Status Report Q2 summary
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2009 Status Report Q1 summary
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2008 Status Report summary
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