Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals
Encyclopedia
Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals is a joint venture between Alumina Limited
(40% share) and Alcoa
(60% share) and is abbreviated to AWAC. AWAC's business is the mining of bauxite
, the extraction of alumina (aluminium oxide
) and the smelting of aluminium. It has about 25% of the global alumina market. Alcoa acts as the day-to-day manager.
in Victoria, located at Portland
and Point Henry
in Victoria
. It has three alumina refineries in Western Australia
, located at Kwinana, Pinjarra
and Wagerup
, and two bauxite
mines at Huntly and Willowdale, also in Western Australia.
brought on line at augment the electricity supply from the Victorian grid.
Alumina Limited
Alumina Limited is a public company listed on the Australian and New York Stock Exchanges. It was formed in 2003 in a demerger from Western Mining Corporation, and is one of the largest companies on the ASX....
(40% share) and Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
(60% share) and is abbreviated to AWAC. AWAC's business is the mining of bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
, the extraction of alumina (aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide with the chemical formula 23. It is commonly referred to as alumina, or corundum in its crystalline form, as well as many other names, reflecting its widespread occurrence in nature and industry...
) and the smelting of aluminium. It has about 25% of the global alumina market. Alcoa acts as the day-to-day manager.
Australian operations
Alcoa has two smeltersAluminium smelting
Aluminium smelting is the process of extracting aluminium from its oxide alumina, generally by the Hall-Héroult process. Alumina is extracted from the ore Bauxite by means of the Bayer process at an alumina refinery....
in Victoria, located at Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
and Point Henry
Moolap, Victoria
Moolap is a residential and industrial suburb of Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The name Moolap is derived from an Aboriginal word for nearby Point Henry, moo-laa, thought to mean 'men gathering to go fishing'. Moolap in Aboriginal tongue means "Shady Place" ....
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. It has three alumina refineries in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, located at Kwinana, Pinjarra
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
and Wagerup
Wagerup, Western Australia
Wagerup is a town located in the Peel region of Western Australia just off the South Western Highway, between Waroona and Harvey.-History:...
, and two bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
mines at Huntly and Willowdale, also in Western Australia.
Portland smelter
The Portland smelter produces about 360,000 tonnes of aluminium a year, and is Victoria's largest single exporter.Point Henry smelter
The Point Henry smelter commenced full production on April 4, 1963. It has a production capacity of 185,000 tonnes of aluminium a year. March 20, 1969 saw Alcoa's own brown coal fired Anglesea Power StationAnglesea Power Station, Victoria (Australia)
Anglesea Power Station is located at Anglesea, in Victoria, Australia within the floristically rich Anglesea Heath area. It is brown coal powered with one steam turbine with a capacity of 150MW of electricity, supplying almost 40% of the electricity used by the nearby Point Henry aluminium...
brought on line at augment the electricity supply from the Victorian grid.
See also
- AluminaAluminium oxideAluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide with the chemical formula 23. It is commonly referred to as alumina, or corundum in its crystalline form, as well as many other names, reflecting its widespread occurrence in nature and industry...
- Aluminium smeltingAluminium smeltingAluminium smelting is the process of extracting aluminium from its oxide alumina, generally by the Hall-Héroult process. Alumina is extracted from the ore Bauxite by means of the Bayer process at an alumina refinery....
- AlcoaAlcoaAlcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
- Alumina LimitedAlumina LimitedAlumina Limited is a public company listed on the Australian and New York Stock Exchanges. It was formed in 2003 in a demerger from Western Mining Corporation, and is one of the largest companies on the ASX....
- Australian Aluminium CouncilAustralian Aluminium CouncilThe Australian Aluminium Council is an Australian industry association representing companies involved in bauxite mining and the refining, production and distribution of aluminium....
- List of Alumina Refineries
- List of aluminium smelters