Environmental Assessments

Environmental Assessments

Alcoa has been operating its bauxite mines and alumina refineries in Western Australia since 1963.

Bauxite is refined into alumina which is then smelted into aluminium. Aluminium is an increasingly important metal due to its strength, light weight and ability to be recycled. 

Aluminium is a key contributor to decarbonisation efforts in Australia and across the globe. A necessary component of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, hospital equipment and a multitude of other items – the manufacturing industry continues to rely on aluminium every day.

Our Huntly and Willowdale mines currently supply bauxite to our Pinjarra and Wagerup refineries where it is transformed to alumina – the feedstock for aluminium.

Combined, our operations employ thousands of people, with a significant portion of our workforce living near the communities where we operate.

Current Assessments 

We currently have three assessments underway. Two are with the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and one, a Strategic Assessment, with the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

In 2020 we proactively referred a proposal to transition our Huntly mine to new areas and to increase alumina production at the Pinjarra refinery by 5 per cent.

Parts of our current mining operations are also being assessed by the WA EPA to determine the environmental acceptability of our operations.

The Strategic Assessment is of current and potential future mining areas through to 2045, providing a holistic assessment and clarity of our long-term operations.

Learn more about our projects: