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September 19, 2006
Alcoa Recognised for Environmental Excellence
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Alcoa of Australia has been recognised as one of Western Australia’s leading environmental performers receiving two certificates of merit in the State’s prestigious 2006 Golden Gecko Awards.
Kim Horne Alcoa’s Director for Human Resources, Environment, Health and Safety accepted the accolades from WA’s Minister for State Development John Bowler at a special presentation last night.
“This recognition shows our hardwork and our focus on environmental excellence is acknowledged and gives us an opportunity to share our learnings with other industry for the greater benefit of all,” Mr Horne said.
“It also shows Alcoa’s ongoing commitment to the development of new technology is paying significant environmental dividends.”
Alcoa received the two merit certificates for the company’s project to successfully use carbon dioxide to reduce the alkalinity of bauxite residue and the sustainability design and construction of the new McCoy Crusher site at Huntly Mine in the Darling Range south of Perth.
The Bauxite Residue Carbonation project is an innovative process developed by Alcoa’s world class Global Research and Development Group (situated at the Kwinana refinery) and delivers two environmental benefits:
- Reducing greenhouse emissions by locking up carbon dioxide which would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere; and
- Paving the way for future re-use of residue.
“Our residue carbonation project is a world-first providing an excellent case study of sustainability,” Mr Horne said.
The carbonation project is delivering environmental, economic and social benefits by utilising a waste product - CO2, to turn another waste – bauxite residue, into a potentially useful resource.
Mr Horne said the project provided a greenhouse sink which locked up CO2 that would otherwise have been emitted into the atmosphere.
The process uses waste carbon dioxide from the nearby CSBP ammonia plant.
“At full capacity, the greenhouse emission reduction will be the equivalent of taking more than 12,000 cars off the road,” he said.
The project, which was a recent recipient of the Engineers Australia Environmental Excellence in Engineering Award, also has the potential to extract CO2 from every Bayer alumina refinery globally which is in line with Alcoa’s focus on being part of the solution to global climate change.
Alcoa’s McCoy Crusher Site: Sustainability Design and Construction was also a recipient of a merit certificate because of the application of sustainable development principles in its design and construction.
The project was designed to minimise environmental impacts during construction, operation and eventual closure.
“One of the priorities in designing the McCoy facilities was to conserve water by maximising water harvesting and recycling. In the first year of operation (2005), over 200 megalitres of water was harvested and recycled, accounting for nearly half of Huntly Mine’s total water consumption,” Mr Horne said.
The new facilities also include best practice storage and management systems for oil and fuels.
The project will see Alcoa continue to mine bauxite at the McCoy region for the next decade. The benefits of this project will however be enjoyed for far longer and support Alcoa’s planning for the next 30 years at the Huntly mine.
Click here for additional information on the 2006 Golden Gecko Awards.
For more information:
Courtney Hoogen Ph: 08 9316 5427 Mobile: 0400 127 427
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