May 6 2004
Alcoa World Alumina Australia is undertaking comprehensive public consultation about a third production unit at its Wagerup refinery.
Managing Director Wayne Osborn said the Wagerup refinery was already the most environmentally advanced alumina refinery in the world. An expansion would meet world-class health guidelines and address community expectations on health and the environment.
He said Alcoa was committing to delivering no increase in dust, noise or odour impacts on residents with an expansion.
"We will be conducting detailed health risk and environmental assessments to ensure the plant maintains its superior, world-class environmental performance," he said.
"It would be an opportunity to create more jobs, growth and business opportunities in the region and mean about 150 permanent new Alcoa jobs and about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
"This would also be a very significant project for the State, with capital expenditure of around A$1.5 billion (approximately US $1.1 billion) and new export revenues of about A$17 billion over the life of the project."
Alcoa has made a major effort and significant investment in a comprehensive emission reduction program at Wagerup in recent years to address community concerns about emissions and has been working to gain community support for a number of years, through community consultative groups and through demonstrated success of significant environmental improvements made at the refinery.
"We have been working in good faith with the local community to restore confidence and strengthen the future prospects of the community and the region," Mr. Osborn said.
"We will embark on a thorough community engagement program to ensure the region around the refinery benefits in a sustainable way that provides a secure and prosperous future," Mr. Osborn said.
We want the community in surrounding region fully engaged and fully informed on all aspects of this project and will be consulting with a comprehensive stakeholder group on the best process in which to achieve this.
Adding a third production unit to the Wagerup refinery is one of several options Alcoa is looking at worldwide to meet a predicted increase in world alumina demand towards the end of 2007.
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