Alpha HPA purchases 9.2 hectares site in Gladstone to build $300 million high purity alumina plant

Alpha HPA Limited has reportedly purchased a 9.2 hectares site Gladstone, Queensland, to develop a $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant. Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk said the main objective behind building this plant is to create more jobs in varied industries and support economic recovery.

“Supporting projects like this means more opportunities for secure, high-skilled jobs across Queensland,” the Premier said.

Glenn Butcher, Minister of Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister of Water, and Member of Gladstone, said the extensive infrastructure and port facilities in the Gladstone region and also skilled workforce have attracted Alpha HPA to the region.

“Gladstone is a world-best location for existing industries with a proven track record of growing successful new industries – like the emerging green energy manufacturing sector,” he said.

Deputy Premier and Minister of State Development Steven Miles noted that Gladstone is rapidly becoming the world-leading manufacturing hub, inspiring new industry growth with renewable energy supply.

“Alpha HPA’s project will support around 120 new, regional jobs in a new emerging industry with global demand,” Mr Miles said.

High purity alumina is used in LED lights, lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, solar battery storage, consumer electronics, and many more. These are high-technology items with rising demand, particularly in China and Europe.

According to industry experts, these high technology projects will help Queensland mitigate the COVID-19 fallouts.

Rimas Kairaitis from Alpha HPA said it’s an exciting time for the company as it fast tracks construction of its Stage 1, Precursor Production Facility (PPF), which will enable to start commercial production from August 2022. Stage 2, the full scale project, will commence in parallel with Stage 1 and is scheduled to start operating commercially by 2024.