CURRENT AND FUTURE STRATEGIES IN ENERGY MANAGEMENT AT WORSLEY ALUMINA

The Bayer process for alumina refining, although not as energy intensive as smelting, derives a significant proportion of the cost of production from energy consumption. Worldwide there continues to be an increased push to reduce ozone-depleting emissions from all sources, culminating in the signing of the Kyoto Protocol (1997). Those refineries that actively contain and improve their energy efficiency relative to competitor alumina producers achieve both reductions in the unit cost of production thereby progressing down the alumina industry cost curve and also minimising their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Current strategies and tools used to improve the energy efficiency of the Worsley Alumina refining process are discussed followed by opportunities for further reductions in the unit production cost of alumina and hence emission reduction post-3.1 mtpa expansion project.