Alpha HPA embarks on the transformational development of Gladstone ultra-high-purity alumina refinery

Alpha HPA has officially begun work on transforming its Gladstone-based project into one of the world's largest single-site ultra-high-purity alumina refineries. The Company's Managing Director, Rimas Kairaitis, announced on August 8, 2024, that site establishment is underway, with substantial funding secured to progress towards full-scale production.

Key earthworks and civil contractors have commenced site establishment activities, signalling the imminent start of project earthworks.

 "Contractors have started mobilising equipment and support infrastructure, and Ergon has begun burying power lines ahead of earthworks commencement," Kairaitis stated.

 He added that Alpha HPA's construction management team is now fully established in Gladstone.

This construction milestone follows a previously announced $400 million government debt facility secured for Stage Two development and $180 million raised in equity, which received strong support from five per cent shareholder Orica. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen recently visited the Gladstone site to tour the established and cleared Stage Two facility.

"With financing in place and a clear path to commercial production, Alpha HPA is experiencing increased demand for larger volume sample sales for final testing with global tier-one end-users," Kairaitis reported.

Stage Two construction is anticipated to take approximately two years, with the first production expected in the second half of 2026.

The company is witnessing significant growth in end-user engagement within the semiconductor industry, bolstered by a recent marketing visit to Japan, a hub for high-end thermal interface materials for the semiconductor sector.

In addition to its refinery development, Alpha HPA is advancing its breakthrough technology to address rising lithium-ion battery fires. Flame testing has confirmed the safety benefits of the UltraCoat process, which uses Alpha HPA's proprietary ultra-high-purity Al-Nitrate precursor to apply controlled thickness high-purity aluminium-oxide and hydroxide coatings within the lithium-ion battery environment.

Alpha HPA is also making strides in its downstream Alpha Sapphire business, with successful growth cycles of high-quality synthetic sapphire boules from the initial two sapphire growth units in Gladstone.