Woodside to supply natural gas to Alcoa’s Western Australia alumina refineries till 2030

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Woodside Energy has signed a new gas sale and purchase agreement with Alcoa of Australia to supply 31.1 petajoules of natural gas from its Western Australian operations between 2027 and 2030.

The agreement will provide gas to Alcoa’s alumina refineries in Western Australia, helping secure energy supply for one of the state’s major industrial sectors. Alumina produced at these refineries is the key raw material used in aluminium production.

Woodside said the deal strengthens its long-standing relationship with Alcoa and reflects its ongoing commitment to supplying natural gas to the Western Australian market. The company noted that reliable gas supplies remain important for major manufacturing and processing industries across the state.

Mark Abbotsford, Woodside’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Chief Commercial Officer, said the agreement supports regional industry, economic activity and energy security in Western Australia. He added that the company remains focused on bringing additional gas supplies to the domestic market.

Woodside also highlighted the role of Western Australia’s domestic gas market framework in supporting long-term supply agreements between producers and industrial consumers. According to the company, the policy environment has helped create stable conditions for investment while ensuring reliable gas supplies for major industrial users.

The agreement follows the Western Australian Government’s approval in December 2025 of an extension to the Pluto-Karratha gas plant interconnector. The approval allows additional gas from the Pluto facilities to be processed through the Karratha gas plant, helping increase the availability of domestic gas supplies.

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Woodside has been supplying gas to the Western Australian market for more than 40 years. In 2025, the company produced approximately 90.3 petajoules of domestic gas, representing around 21 per cent of the state's total domestic gas supply.

The agreement will supply Alcoa with 31.1 PJ of natural gas from 2027 to 2030. This gives Alcoa clearer energy supply and more predictable operating costs for its alumina refineries in Western Australia. Woodside said it remains engaged with customers across Western Australia regarding additional domestic gas supply opportunities beyond 2026. 

More reliable gas reduces the chance of production disruptions and helps keep alumina output steady. Steady alumina production supports consistent downstream aluminium manufacturing. The deal also improves Western Australia’s industrial competitiveness and strengthens investor confidence in energy‑intensive industries. For chemical commodities, the agreement is unlikely to cause big price changes. Instead, it should help stabilise costs for gas‑intensive products such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen. Overall, the contract improves supply security and makes industrial operations and pricing in the region more predictable.