The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to allow Alcoa to continue operating while progressing a Strategic Assessment agreement that will modernise the environmental approvals framework for the globally significant bauxite and alumina producer.
CME Chief Executive Officer Aaron Morey said granting Alcoa a national-interest exemption recognised the strategic importance of alumina — the precursor to aluminium — to Australia’s economic resilience, sovereign capability and the global energy transition.
“This is a sensible outcome that protects thousands of Western Australian jobs and the safe and responsible supply of alumina, a commodity that is integral to both daily life and the global energy transition.
“Global demand for aluminium is accelerating, driven by its essential role in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and modern electricity networks — making reliable domestic production a matter of national economic and strategic importance.
“Alcoa’s plans to recover gallium — a critical mineral used in semiconductors, defence technologies and advanced electronics — would further strengthen Australia’s role diversifying and securing global supply chains.”
Mr Morey stressed Alcoa already operated under strict environmental regulations.
“A comprehensive strategic assessment will further modernise Alcoa’s approvals framework while providing the community with greater clarity about future mining activities,” Mr Morey said.
“New National Environmental Standards are still being drafted and recent changes to Federal environmental assessments will take time to bed down.
“It is vital government works closely with industry to minimise disruption to existing operations during the transition, especially operations that are a key pillar of plans to position Australia as a leading global supplier of critical minerals.”
Media contacts:
Josh Zimmerman j.zimmerman@cmewa.com / 0404 947 719
Natasha Mutch n.mutch@cmewa.com / 0435 383 382