August 30, 2008

Rio Yarwun refinery to meet increasing global alumina demand

Expansion work on the Yarwun alumina refinery near Gladstone in Queensland is progressing on budget and is on track for its first shipment of alumina in the second half of 2010. The USD 1.8 billion project, announced in July 2007, will more than double annual production of the refinery, taking output from 1.4 million tonnes to 3.4 million tonnes by 2011.

The release added that the expansion project includes a gas based 160 MW cogeneration plant which will reduce CO2 emissions per tonne of alumina by 35% relative to coal.

Mr Keith Nugent project director of Rio Tinto Alcan said that “In the eight months since the expansion project began, engineering is approaching 25% completion with over USD 900 million committed by the end of February 2008. There have been no lost time injuries on the project, with more than 400,000 hours worked with a current workforce of just over 300 on site. We expect to commence our first major concrete pour at the end of March 2008.”

On completion, the expanded refinery, at 3.4 million tonnes per year, will produce about 4% of the total global alumina demand. With increased production at Yarwun, and expansion of the Gove refinery, Rio Tinto Alcan will double its Australian alumina capacity by 2015.