Alumina Limited
Encyclopedia
Alumina Limited is a public company listed on the Australian
and New York Stock Exchange
s. It was formed in 2003 in a demerger from Western Mining Corporation, and is one of the largest companies on the ASX.
Alumina's only business activity is as the owner of a 40% share in a joint venture with Alcoa
called Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, abbreviated to AWAC. AWAC's business is the mining of bauxite
, the extraction of alumina (aluminium oxide) and the smelting of pure aluminium
. It has about 17% of the global alumina market. Alcoa owns the remaining 60% of the business and acts as day-to-day manager.
In Australia, AWAC trades as Alcoa of Australia (AoA), which owns two bauxite
mines and three refineries
(to extract aluminium oxide from bauxite) in Western Australia
and owns a smelter (to extract pure aluminium metal) and has a controlling interest in another in Victoria
.
AWAC also has operations or interests in Texas
, Suriname
, Jamaica
, Brazil
, Spain
, Guinea
, and owns Alcoa Steamship.
Alumina's Chief Executive Officer
is John Bevan and the board is chaired by Donald Morley.
Given that the management of Alumina's assets is performed entirely by other companies, their extensive governance structure and regular board meetings have attracted adverse comment. Internet publication Crikey
describe Alumina's board as "corporate Australia's cosiest and most expensive lunch club" .
Australian Securities Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
and New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
s. It was formed in 2003 in a demerger from Western Mining Corporation, and is one of the largest companies on the ASX.
Alumina's only business activity is as the owner of a 40% share in a joint venture with 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...
called Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, 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) and the smelting of pure aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. It has about 17% of the global alumina market. Alcoa owns the remaining 60% of the business and acts as day-to-day manager.
In Australia, AWAC trades as Alcoa of Australia (AoA), which owns 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 and three refineries
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
(to extract aluminium oxide from bauxite) 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...
and owns a smelter (to extract pure aluminium metal) and has a controlling interest in another 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....
.
AWAC also has operations or interests in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, and owns Alcoa Steamship.
Alumina's Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
is John Bevan and the board is chaired by Donald Morley.
Given that the management of Alumina's assets is performed entirely by other companies, their extensive governance structure and regular board meetings have attracted adverse comment. Internet publication Crikey
Crikey
Crikey is an independent Australian electronic magazine comprising an open access website and an email newsletter available to subscribers. Well known in Australian political, media and business circles, Crikey was described by former Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham as the "most popular...
describe Alumina's board as "corporate Australia's cosiest and most expensive lunch club" .
See also
- 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...
- Aluminium oxideAluminium 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...
- Alumina
- Alcoa World Alumina and ChemicalsAlcoa World Alumina and ChemicalsAlcoa World Alumina and Chemicals is a joint venture between Alumina Limited and Alcoa and is abbreviated to AWAC. AWAC's business is the mining of bauxite, the extraction of alumina and the smelting of aluminium. It has about 25% of the global alumina market...
- List of Alumina Refineries
- List of aluminium smelters