The Queensland government has announced $21.7 million in funding to support the development of a new high-purity alumina (HPA) manufacturing plant in Gladstone.
Alpha HPA will use the funding to commence the development of the second stage of its HPA First project, which focuses on commercialising the production of high-purity alumina and related HPA precursor products in Gladstone using Alpha HPA’s proprietary licenced solvent extraction and refining technology.
The new plant is expected to create up to 117 jobs and stronger supply chain links between critical mineral production and manufacturing.
The funding was awarded as part of the Queensland government’s Industry Partnership Program.
The high-purity alumina produced in the new facility will be used in items such as LED lighting, lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.
Upon completion of the project’s stage 2, Alpha’s low-carbon process technology will enable extraction and purification of aluminium from an industrial feedstock to produce 4N alumina and 5N aluminium salts for sale high technology markets for products including LED lighting, lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.
Acting Premier Steven Miles and Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher unveiled the funding today during an inspection of the project’s first stage.
“Investments like Alpha HPA’s are growing Queensland’s critical minerals processing capability and ensuring new industries have the materials to deliver safe, sustainable, high-performing products to market,” Miles said.
“The Queensland Government’s Industry Partnership Program is one way we are supporting the growth of companies like Alpha HPA in priority industry sectors,” Miles added.
Building a diverse and sustainable supply chain is among the key focuses of the Queensland Battery Industry Strategy, which is slated to be launched in late 2023.
“Assistance through the government’s Industry Partnership Program for the HPA First Project builds further momentum for the project and further growth of local supply chains,” said Alpha HPA Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis.
“In 2021 we signed the Central Queensland Statement of Cooperation with the Queensland Government, this commitment provided certainty for established and new industries in the Gladstone region to contribute to the goal of net zero emissions manufacturing,” Kairaitis added.
