OAKLEY, Western Australia (CU)_Over the recent years, the resources industry across the globe has been ramping up its efforts to minimise its carbon footprint. Major American aluminium producer Alcoa is also looking to join these efforts, with plans to conduct an emissions reduction trial at its Pinjarra alumina refinery in Western Australia.
The refinery is currently powered by gas, which means its carbon footprint it approximately half the global average for refineries since most refineries overseas are powered by coal. Over the past year and a half, Alcoa and its local partner Alumina Ltd have rebranded their WA alumina exports as ‘EcoSource’ alumina as it set out to slash its greenhouse gas emissions and extract premium prices for its output.
In the latest example of government money flowing toward the resources export industry, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is expected to invest $8.6 million in the trial at the Pinjarra refinery. This means, taxpayers will fund 44 per cent of the $19.7 million trial, which will investigate the potential to use renewable energy gas in the ‘calcination’ stage of making alumina, which is when the product is essentially heated and dried. If successful, Alcoa will be able to bring down its carbon emissions by a significant proportion, since calcination stage is said to be responsible for 28 per cent of the emissions in the alumina refining process.
Commenting on ARENA’s decision, Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the funding is a reflection of the Morrison government’s belief that new technology would play a critical role in enabling Australian industry achieve net zero emissions by 2050. “We’re working with our manufacturers to support them to trial new technologies that will reduce emissions. We’re not forcing them to adopt technologies before they’re commercial. That’s what technology not taxes means,” he said in a statement.
The government of Western Australia is also expected to invest $1.7 million into the same trial.
