ALUMINA PRODUCTION GROWTH IN A DECARBONISED WORLD

Aluminium metal is important to global decarbonisation and energy transition efforts, from electric vehicles to solar panels. This will drive continued alumina production growth over the medium and long-term, despite the rise in secondary aluminium’s contribution. Moreover, we are at a crossroads for growth within the industry as China’s alumina growth slows, and there is a renewed focus globally on securing commodity supply chains. This presents an opportunity for industry growth outside of China not seen in the last 20 years.
This paper attempts to expand and explore some key questions for alumina’s growth in a decarbonised world. Over the last eighty years the alumina industry has seen waves of development concentrated geographically. In this new paradigm where should you locate your new alumina refinery? And importantly, what should your greenfield refinery look like?
The preferred location for greenfield sites will continue to be determined by a range of traditional factors but the energy transition will also shape future thinking with access to low-cost renewables a likely driving force. Changes in energy source and sustainability concerns over emissions, resource usage and waste will be the largest drivers for refinery design change in over 100 years, catalysing application of new technologies. What does the future hold?