Prohibiting bauxite mining expansion at jarrah forest may result in Alcoa's alumina production declining for two years

In Western Australia, Alcoa will reduce alumina production for two years before the state government permits them to expand bauxite mining at jarrah forests close to Perth's largest drinking water dam.

Mike Ferraro, the CEO of Alumina Limited, said, "Once Alcoa could mine the Myara North area, the quantity and quality of bauxite supplied to two of its WA alumina refineries would need to be increased for them to operate at full capacity."

Myara North stretches from Jarrahdale to the northern edge of the Serpentine Dam, which supplies 18% of Perth's water, and east to Albany Highway. The sole asset of the $4.4 billion Melbourne-based company is a 40% stake in the joint venture Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, which US-based Alcoa runs.

Owning the expansive Huntly mine area in Western Australia, AWAC provides bauxite to its alumina refineries in Kwinana and Pinjarra and locations further south. This Willowdale mine area supports the Wagerup refinery.

Ferraro added, “Alcoa was running down the area now mined at Huntly. The next phase is to move into the Myara North part of the lease, and that’s when you would expect both the grade and quantum of production to improve.”

While discussing rehabilitating the bauxite mining sites, Ferraro stated that in the past 11 years, Alcoa cleared 7700 hectares in WA and rehabilitated 6370 hectares.

According to a corporate representative, Alcoa considers an area to be rehabilitated once it has been landscaped, topsoil has been replenished, and initial sowing has been completed. Seedlings are planted, and fertiliser is applied the next year.