Chief executive Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the miner had responded to all 60,000 comments on its WA expansion plans—in fact, it responded to fewer than 10, and some were unacceptable.
The WA government will soon decide whether Black Mountain Energy can frack 20 wells near the Kimberley's Fitzroy River, but promised measures to protect the environment and the rights of local people are not yet in place.
Alcoa chief executive Bill Oplinger told Wall Street the US aluminium specialist could take strong action to boost profits from alumina, most of which it refines in Western Australia.
The northern jarrah forest stretches from inland of Perth, south to Collie. It is threatened by climate change and bauxite mining by Alcoa and South32.
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.
Roger Cook granting Alcoa greater access to mine near Perth's dams risks could cost taxpayers billions of dollars and result in water restrictions
Within weeks, the US miner will reveal for public comment plans to strip mine 75 square kilometres of jarrah forest.
Alcoa has made last minute changes to its planned expansion of mining in WA's jarrah forest and wants to reenter a previously mined area, potentially triggering a new major federal environmental assessment.
All the info and a bit of comment on WA energy, industry and climate every Friday
