Alcoa refuses to rule out mining the Perth Hills
A letter from the US miner raised hope that the jarrah forest inland from Perth would escape its strip mining for bauxite, but Alcoa is keeping its options open.
US company Alcoa mines bauxite in WA's south west, where it risks Perth's water supply and struggles to rehabilitate the jarrah forest. Two refineries produce alumina for export. NYSE:AA, ASX:AAI
The Ad Standards decision has demolished a key plank of the US miner's expensive campaign to win public support for expanded mining in WA.
Alcoa chief executive Bill Oplinger will look to shore up state government support for his vital WA mining that is facing public scrutiny for the first time.
The US miner has held back findings that it drilled near Cockatoo nesting trees and has had its plans for protecting Perth's water supply rejected.
Extraction of the critical mineral found in the waste from making alumina from bauxite could curb China's 98 per cent share of global production.
Bill Oplinger reassured investors that a 15-month delay would not affect operating rates at its Pinjarra alumina refinery but misled them about Alcoa's record of rehabilitating the jarrah forest.
WA's environmental watchdog will consider the risk to Perth's water supply and whether the US miner can rehabilitate the forest it strip-mines.
Destroyed forest. Threatened water supply. Toxic towns. Mountains of residue. Will the WA Government demand better?
Kwinana and Yarloop have suffered from Alcoa's toxic dust - is Pinjarra next?
Two journalists from Alcoa's hometown flew to Perth to look at its mining of WA's jarrah. A brilliant look at a slow-moving tragedy.
The battle of jobs and Alcoa profits versus the jarrah forest and Perth's water supply will ramp up within weeks when the miner's plans are released.
Costly, complex, and with old technology, the 60-year-old alumina refinery that had employed 800 workers is unlikely to reopen.
The US miner expects WA government approval within 12 months to destroy 75 square kilometres of jarrah forest to enable its "number one" lever to boost profits.
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