May 30, 2018
Alcoa’s rehabilitation impresses international biodiversity leader
Alcoa’s environmental rehabilitation is a model for the mining industry, according to renowned international biodiversity conservationist, Professor Thomas E Lovejoy, who toured Alcoa’s operations last week.
Professor Lovejoy, the man who coined the term ‘biological diversity’ and a Senior Fellow of the United Nations Foundation, joined with 100 other eminent international environmental delegates at the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) conference held in Mandurah.
The conference, focussed on sustainable practice and good stewardship all along the aluminium value cycle, included a visit to Alcoa’s Pinjarra alumina refinery and Huntly bauxite mine.
“It was a wonderful chance to learn about jarrah forests and the sophisticated approach Alcoa has taken in restoring the jarrah forest community after removing bauxite ore,” Professor Lovejoy said. “It has been a sustained effort improving over time and a model for the mining industry.”
Alcoa WA Bauxite environmental manager Dr Soolim Carney said she was pleased to show the visitors Alcoa’s mining and rehabilitation work, which earned the company a listing on the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honour for excellence in environmental rehabilitation in 1990.
“Alcoa’s bauxite operations mine in previously logged areas, we don’t mine in virgin or old growth forest areas and we are very proud of the fact that self-sustaining jarrah forests now thrive in areas where Alcoa once mined bauxite,” Dr Carney said.
ASI is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit organisation which sets standards and certification across the aluminium value chain, from bauxite mining to alumina refining to aluminium smelting. The ASI conference also included discussion on key sustainability topics in the aluminium value chain as well as training workshops on certification and good practice case studies.
ENDS
Media contact
Sonia Nolan, Senior Communications Adviser, 0401 034 103, sonia.nolan@alcoa.com.au
Jane McGuire, Senior Communications Adviser, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com.au
Editor’s note Alcoa has a proud history in Western Australia which it hopes to continue by remaining internationally competitive, attracting ongoing investment and providing jobs for future growth.
- Alcoa employs more than 3,750 people in WA – about 2,000 live in the Peel region
- Alcoa spends $635 million annually in wages, salaries and benefits in WA
- Alcoa invests $1.39 billion in operating and capital expenditure annually in WA
- Alcoa pays $366 million in taxes (State and Federal) annually
- Alcoa invests $3.6 million in community contributions annually in WA
- More than 75 per cent of Alcoa of Australia’s total annual revenue stays in Australia through wages, local purchasing, taxes, royalties, capital investment and dividends to Australian shareholders
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE: AA) is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products, with a strong portfolio of value-added cast and rolled products and substantial energy assets. Alcoa is built on a foundation of strong values and operating excellence dating back nearly 130 years to the world-changing discovery that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life. Since inventing the aluminum industry, and throughout our history, our talented Alcoans have followed on with breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to efficiency, safety, sustainability and stronger communities wherever we operate. Visit us online on www.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.