Alcoa of Australia mines bauxite in the South West of WA to feed three alumina refineries that are heavy users of gas. Owned 60% by US Alcoa Corporation and 40% by ASX-listed Alumina Limited, it also has an aluminium smelter in Portland Victoria.
Carbon Emissions
Alcoa will trial technology at its Wagerup alumina refinery to produce steam by renewable-powered compression instead of gas-fired heat that promises a 70% per cent emissions reduction.
Carbon Emissions
If South32’s low profile coal-burning Worsley Alumina operated like Alcoa’s facilities 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year would be avoided: the same as Alcoa's Wagerup refinery.
Carbon Emissions
WA's industrial greenhouse gas emissions are dominated by four products and a handful of companies, including a few that have managed to keep a low profile in the climate wars.
Domestic Gas
Momentum behind Perth Basin gas projects continues to grow with Alcoa committing to buy West Erregulla gas from Warrego.
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Two of the biggest players in WA’s gas-propelled economy, Woodside Petroleum and Alcoa, are starting to look to renewables to slash their gas use as doubts rise about how big a role the fossil fuel will play in the transition to clean energy.