$300m high purity alumina plant in Gladstone approved for construction
Queensland will soon welcome a new state export industry as well as the creation of 120 jobs as the State’s Coordinator-General grants planning approval to the construction of a $300 million high purity alumina (HPA) plant in the Gladstone State Development Area (SDA).
“This means Gladstone is now one step closer to becoming the home of an exciting new industry, with the production and export of high purity alumina used around the world in new-economy manufacturing.
“This is part of Queensland’s economic recovery, encouraging investment in manufacturing that creates jobs for Queenslanders,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said.
This approval follows Alpha HPA’s application for a Material Change of Use (MCU). Currently, the company is working to acquire the Environmental Authority (EA) from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES), which is the final approval required to get works going on the new HPA plant.
Alpha HPA will be working with AECOM as permitting consultants for the completion of applications and supporting studies for the EA. Approval for the EA is anticipated to be granted in the June quarter of 2021.
“Alpha is delighted to receive this MCU approval and looks forward to completion of the EA. Project permitting is one of the critical workstreams required for the successful delivery of the HPA First Project and approval of the MCU represents a material milestone in the advancement of the project. We look forward to continuing our work together with AECOM to ensure the timely delivery of our EA,” Alpha HPA Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis said.
According to Minister for Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher, the State Government conditionally made a large 9.2 hectare site available to assist in bringing Alpha HPA to Gladstone.
“The extensive infrastructure and port facilities in the Gladstone region, an established industrial sector and skilled workforce all helped attract Alpha HPA to the Gladstone.
“Alpha HPA plans to produce 10,000 tonnes of HPA equivalent annually to Gladstone using their proprietary licensed solvent extraction and refining technology.
“This process has lower environmental impacts and includes recycling the chemical reagents used in the alumina purification process,” Mr Butcher said.
High purity alumina is the pure form of aluminium oxide, which has desired physical properties such as extreme hardness, thermal conductivity and chemical stability.
Alpha HPA Managing Director Mr Kairaitis said that the company is looking forward to beginning operations in Gladstone.
“We have already signed a memorandum of understanding with Orica, who are also located in the Gladstone SDA, for the supply and offtake of the chemical reagents we use to produce HPA.
“We are also progressing agreements in place with Gladstone SDA businesses for the supply of feed product and utilities,” Mr Kairaitis said.
The new HPA plant is expected to be up and operational by early 2023.
Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Alpha HPA
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