What Alcoa’s looming alumina monopoly could mean for WA’s jarrah forests
- Alcoa’s proposed purchase of South32’s Worsley alumina refinery would give it access to new bauxite resources, potentially expanding mining into previously untouched areas of Western Australia’s jarrah forest.
- Environmental groups warn the deal could accelerate native forest clearing and threaten biodiversity, raising concerns about long-term ecological impacts.
- Industry and government figures argue the acquisition would secure jobs, sustain alumina production, and support the state’s economy, while approvals will be subject to regulatory and environmental assessments.
Alcoa’s multi-billion-dollar deal to buy South32’s alumina operations could unlock swathes of Western Australia’s native jarrah forests for bauxite mining, environmentalists say.
The landmark $8.1 billion transaction, which remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, would put all of WA’s bauxite and alumina supply chain under one company, making Alcoa the world’s largest bauxite miner.
Botanist Kingsley Dixon said Alcoa’s acquisition of South32’s Worsley Alumina refinery, located about 175 kilometres south of Perth near Collie, could be key to accessing untapped ore deposits at the southern end of the northern jarrah forest.
“I’m suspicious this means a major impact for parts of the southern flank of the jarrah forest that were previously out of reach of the current refining capacity of Alcoa,” Professor Dixon said.
Alcoa’s current mining lease covers 7,022 square kilometres from near Chidlow to Perth’s east, down to Collie in the South West region.
Its current footprint and expansion aspirations have been confined to the centre of its vast mineral lease at the Huntly and Willowdale mines, close to its Pinjarra and Wagerup refineries.
When asked whether the deal would see it ramping up activity …
... read the full article here
Original article and photo by "ABC News"
