Alcoa’s Alumina refinery in Wagerup under investigation for leakage of potentially toxic material

The mine safety regulator of Western Australia is investigating the leakage of seven million litres of potentially toxic material gushed from a tank at Alcoa’s alumina refinery this week.

On 9^th March 2021, the incident took place at the American industrial giant’s alumina refinery in Wagerup, 120 kilometres south of Perth.

As per our sources, the material leakage from a tank came to Alcoa’s knowledge at late night. However, no employees were in the zone at the time and the clean-up of the site was commenced immediately.

On 12^th March 2021, Alcoa engaged the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and inspectors on-site to investigate.

Alcoa stated that the potentially alkaline mining process material had escaped through a hole in the bottom of a tank in a report to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

A spokesperson for the department said: “Alcoa reported that the material entered the second and third containment bunds before flowing to the unsealed ground in the processing area.”

Alcoa’s report said: “No material entered the surrounding environment and that it was not expected to enter waterways.”

“All recovered material would be returned for processing or disposed of at a residue storage area.”