Name of the Project
High-purity alumina (HPA) First project.

Location
Gladstone State Development Area, in Queensland, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Alpha HPA.

Project Description
The HPA First project will at scale be one of the largest HPA refineries in the world. The 10 ha state-of-the-art facility will leverage the established Stage 1 facility, and the latest in process control systems and automation, making it capable of producing 10 000 t/y of HPA equivalent.

Alpha HPA announced a final investment decision for the second stage of the HPA refinery in May 2024.

The Stage 2 facility will leverage the established Stage 1 operation, and Alpha HPA’s Australian-owned and -developed process intellectual property.

The company’s proprietary process technology offers a unique opportunity to manufacture a wide range of cost-competitive and low-carbon HPA material that leverages established industrial infrastructure in Gladstone.

The innovative process allows for the extraction and purification of aluminium from industrial feedstock, producing materials of exceptional purity for high-technology applications, including the semiconductor, lithium-ion battery and LED lighting sectors.

At full scale, the site will be capable of producing more than 10 000 t/y of high-purity aluminium products

Potential Job Creation
Stage 1 is expected to create about 490 jobs during construction and more than 200 jobs upon completion. Stage 2 will create 120 ongoing local jobs, in addition to the 300 jobs during construction.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The payback period from first production for Stage 2 is estimated at 3.7 years.

Capital Expenditure
Stage 1 has a preproduction capital cost of A$308.13-million.

Alpha has secured a A$400-million Australian government debt facility and raised A$180-million in equity to fund the Stage 2 development. 

Planned Start/End Date
Construction of Stage 2 started in the second half of 2024, with first production scheduled for the first half of the 2027 financial year.

Latest Developments
Construction of the Stage 2 HPA First Project started on September 3, with extensive funding support in place to progress to full-scale production.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Prudentia Process Consulting (DFS and cost estimation); Prudentia and HPAlumina (pilot plant, engineering); and Aecom (permitting approvals).

Contact Details for Project Information
Alpha HPA, tel +61 7 3709 0902 or email hello@alphahpa.com.au.