Australia
Chevron to supply 55 PJ of natural gas to South32’s Worsley Alumina Refinery from 2028
Chevron Australia has entered a new natural gas supply agreement with South32’s Worsley Alumina business, reinforcing the importance of reliable energy supplies to Australia’s alumina refining industry. The deal will support operations at the Western Australian facility, where energy availability remains central to mineral processing and industrial activity. Under the contract, Chevron will supply natural gas to South32 Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd from 1 January 2028. The arrangement continues a longstanding commercial relationship between the companies, with the fuel allocated to the alumina producer’s processing requirements. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
Aluminium Council calls for bauxite, alumina and aluminium to join critical minerals list
Bauxite, alumina and aluminium should be added to Australia's Critical Minerals List to bring Australia into line with its key strategic partners and protect one of the few complete industrial value chains the country has, a new report released today by the Australian Aluminium Council finds. The report, “Securing Australia's Aluminium Advantage”, finds the US, the UK, the European Union, Canada and South Korea already recognise aluminium or its value chain as critical, and Japan lists bauxite. Australia produces nearly a quarter of the world's bauxite and is the world's largest alumina exporter, but none of the three is on Australia's Critical Minerals List. Aluminium is recognised only on the Government's separate Strategic Materials List – but which does not align with that of our key...
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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News
Can a giant heat battery change how alumina is refined? Rio Tinto puts it to the test with their 360 MWh heat battery project at Yarwun alumina refinery
Rio Tinto and Rondo Energy have commenced front-end engineering and design for a 30 MW/360 MWh thermal energy storage project at the Yarwun alumina refinery near Gladstone, Queensland, marking a potential milestone in the use of heat batteries to reduce emissions from alumina refining. The Rondo Heat Battery will store energy as high-temperature heat in refractory bricks and supply continuous process heat to support Rio Tinto’s alumina refining operations. If progressed, the project would be one of the first large-scale demonstrations of thermal energy storage for industrial process heat globally and a world-first for the alumina industry. Heat batteries target round-the-clock industrial demand Australia regularly experiences four to six hours of surplus solar-generated renewable...
Impact Minerals announces new strategy built on HPA focus and capital discipline
Impact Minerals Limited (ASX: IPT) (Impact Minerals or the Company) today announces the outcome of the strategic review it began under its 100-day plan in August. The Company will concentrate management attention and development capital on one priority: producing high-purity alumina (HPA) from its Lake Hope Project (80 per cent) in Western Australia. Its precious and base metals ground will be reviewed and its exploration effort will turn to critical minerals. The 100-day plan is approximately 50 per cent complete and is meeting its milestones. Its purpose is to make Impact Minerals ready for institutional investment. Two businesses, two sets of needs Impact Minerals has run HPA development and metals exploration as one business. They are not. HPA needs development capital, engineering...
Australia to prioritise critical minerals refining and European market in updated strategy
Australia plans to give greater attention to critical minerals refining and processing under an updated strategy, as competition for investment grows and concerns over supply chains continue. Resources Minister Madeleine King said the revised strategy would guide the industry's next stage of development, with a focus on creating greater economic and strategic value from critical minerals. She said Australia would prioritise processing activities where it already has, or could develop, a competitive advantage. Australia is a major supplier of critical minerals, including rare earths used in defence and renewable energy. However, China dominates the refining stage of the supply chain. Western countries are seeking to expand their own processing capabilities and diversify supplies of...
Japan’s aluminium imports shift: UAE shipments plunge 41.8% as Australia takes the lead
Japan imported 1.36 million tonnes of downstream aluminium products in January–August 2026, down 6.2 per cent from 1.45 million tonnes in the same period of 2025. The latest figures show lower overall imports, with shipments from the UAE seeing the biggest decline among the five leading exporters listed, while imports from Australia also fell. Japan’s total imports decline Japan’s downstream aluminium imports stood at 1.36 million tonnes through August 2026, a drop of around 90,000 tonnes, compared to shipments in 2025 during the same period. However, annual imports remained broadly stable over the previous three years, rising from 2.11 million tonnes in 2023 to 2.12 million tonnes in 2024, an increase of 0.3 per cent. In 2025, imports edged up by a further 0.1 per cent to 2.12 million...
Queensland bauxite expansion: Rio Tinto project targets 1,300 construction jobs with $1.9bn investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project
Rio Tinto’s planned USD 1.9 billion investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project is expected to support more than 1,300 construction jobs in Queensland, while helping secure the long-term future of its Weipa mining operations as existing sources of production approach the end of their lives. Located on Western Cape York Peninsula, Kangwinan will add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production capacity, with first output targeted for 2029 and full production expected by 2032. The project will raise Weipa Operations’ annual capacity to around 44 million tonnes from current production of approximately 38 million tonnes. Construction is scheduled to ramp up in 2027. Beyond the immediate employment boost, the investment is expected to help sustain Rio Tinto’s residentially based workforce of...
Rio Tinto plans 360 MWh heat battery, Australia’s largest for Yarwun alumina refinery
Rio Tinto is assessing the use of thermal energy storage at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Queensland, Australia, through a partnership with Rondo Energy. The proposed system would store 360 MWh of energy and deliver heat at a rate of 30 MW, potentially reducing the refinery’s reliance on fossil fuels to produce steam. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed AUD 3.6 million (USD 2.5 million) for front-end engineering and design studies. A further AUD 38 million (USD 27 million) could be made available to support installation if the study is completed successfully and the project proceeds. Join the fourth edition of webinar " Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours " by Jorge Dyszel. The proposed installation would be among the first large-scale industrial...
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