The first boiler at Worsley Alumina shifts to natural gas

South32, a diversified mining and metals company, successfully converted the first coal-fired boilers to natural gas at its Worsley Alumina operation in Western Australia. 

This conversion is a significant step toward reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the operation.

The Worsley Alumina operation comprises a bauxite mine near Boddington and an alumina refinery near Collie. The alumina produced in the refinery is distributed to smelters worldwide, including South32's Hillside smelter in Richards Bay, South Africa, and the Mozal smelter in Mozambique. The operation relies on boilers to generate steam critical for the alumina refining process.

The conversion work for the boiler began in May and successfully transitioned to a gas-fired boiler in late September. The formal handover is anticipated to take place in late October. South32 estimates that this conversion will reduce up to 208,000 tonnes per year of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, roughly equivalent to a 5.5 per cent decrease in operational GHG emissions at Worsley Alumina.

Erwin Schaufler, Vice President of South32 Worsley Alumina operations, said, "The conversion of the first boiler to natural gas is an important step in our path towards lower-carbon energy sources at Worsley Alumina, aligning with the Western Australian government’s coal exit timeline."

Furthermore, this initiative supports South32's broader objectives, which include reducing operational GHG emissions across all its operations by 50 per cent compared to 2021 levels by 2035 and achieving net-zero operational GHG emissions by 2050.

Schaufler emphasises that while adopting natural gas is an interim measure, South32 is actively pursuing longer-term energy transition solutions with a strong focus on electrification and renewable energy sources.

He also highlights the company's commitment to collaborating closely with the government, community, and industry stakeholders to ensure a just transition for the town of Collie and the broader region while continuing efforts to decarbonise its operations.

South32's plans include converting a second coal-fired boiler at Worsley Alumina to run on natural gas by 2024, further contributing to their emissions reduction efforts.