Latest news with #DarrenWalsh
West Australian
17-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Aluminium giant Alcoa pushes back timeline for approval of South West bauxite mine transition plan
Mining giant Alcoa is banking on a lengthy delay before contentious plans to expand bauxite mining operations in WA's South West jarrah forests get the final nod. WA's Environmental Protection Authority launched a 12-week public comment period at the end of May covering the US-listed company's 2023-27 plans for future mining locations within the Huntly mine area, which were first referred for assessment to the regulator in 2020. Alcoa is also proposing a 5 per cent increase to capacity at its Pinjarra alumina refinery after outlining a blueprint for the next 20 years of operation. EPA chair Darren Walsh said the decision to release both documents simultaneously would ensure better consideration of the combined and cumulative impacts. 'A combined public review will also be easier and more efficient for the community and stakeholders,' he said. 'The sheer volume, the unique biodiversity of the northern jarrah forest, and the number of environmental factors to consider means a 12-week public consultation period is entirely appropriate.' Releasing its second-quarter results in the US overnight, Alcoa conceded plans for the next major mine regions — Myara North and Holyoake — and the expansion at the Pinjarra refinery would likely generate a paperwork avalanche. 'Following this public consultation period and the company's response to any clarifications requested by the WA EPA, the WA EPA will publish its assessment and recommendations,' the company said in its update. 'An appeals process of the assessment and recommendations will follow before Ministerial decisions are finalised.'The Ministerial decisions were expected by the first quarter of 2026 per the indicative timeline the WA EPA set in the third quarter of 2024. 'From both the company and the WA EPA perspective, the indicative timeline is no longer achievable primarily due to the complexity related to advancing both mine approvals, the extensive documentation provided by the company and independent experts, and the additional work expected in summarising and responding to submissions received in the public comment period.' Aloca said it hoped to have further clarity on a final approval timeline from the EPA at the end of the public comment period. The delay leaves Alcoa reliant on lower-grade ore to feed its Pinjarra plant. It also has a refinery at Wagerup. The company blindsided workers at its Kwinana refinery in early 2024 when it announced a decision to mothball the plant. It blamed poor market conditions, the plant's age, and low grades of bauxite mined in WA. The American giant sought to downplay the role of red and green tape at the time of the decision, despite previously warning that environmental approval delays were forcing mining to move to lower-grade ores. Alcoa in November late last year moved to reactivate a mine site within the Huntly complex near Jarrahdale — left idle since 2014 — in a last-ditch bid to replace ore from the stalled 2023-27 transition project and keep the Pinjarra refinery firing. Alcoa, the largest US aluminium producer, said tariffs on imports from Canada cost it $US115 million ($177m) in the second quarter, showing how US President Donald Trump's trade agenda has affected the industry. The company redirected Canada-produced aluminium to customers outside the US to mitigate additional tariff costs, it said in its second-quarter update. Metal producers are navigating the trade tumult Trump created after raising import tariffs on steel and aluminium, first to 25 per cent in March and then to 50 per centin June, in an effort to revive domestic production. Alcoa's latest toll from tariffs is about six times more than in the first quarter when the Pittsburgh-based firm said the levies, which were then 25 per cent, had cost it an additional $US20m. Mining giant Rio Tinto also revealed Wednesday that its Canada-made aluminium generated costs of more than $US300m in the first half due to the tariffs. Alcoa has had extensive conversations with administrations on both sides of the border, including directly with Trump, Alcoa chief executive William Oplinger said on a call following the earnings report. Mr Oplinger repeatedly has warned US customers will bear the costs of tariffs on aluminium producers. 'While we're not particularly thrilled with the tariffs,' he said, 'our customers are paying significantly higher for aluminum in the United States than anywhere else in the world.' Alcoa reported revenue of $US3.02 billion for the period — down from the first quarter's result of $3.34b but higher than $US2.9b recorded the same time last year. Profit slid to $US164m, down sharply from $US548m in the March quarter but well up on the $US20m result from the same time last financial year.
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Rio Tinto wins State environmental approval for West Angelas
WA's environmental adjudicator has approved the next mine in Rio Tinto's $20 billion cash splash to replace a stable of ageing projects in the Pilbara. New iron ore pits at West Angelas will allow the mining giant to keep pumping out its most lucrative commodity from the site north-west of Newman for another 25 years, an application with the Environmental Protection Authority shows. EPA chair Darren Walsh said the agency had attached conditions to the approval designed to protect the adjacent Karijini National Park. Rio has already reduced how much land it planned to clear by about 25 per cent. Mr Walsh also said the revised development application — which was originally approved six years ago — also included exclusion zones to avoid impacts to culturally significant areas and ghost bat roosts. Rio owns 53 per cent of West Angelas as part of a joint venture, with Mitsui Iron Ore holddng 33 per cent and NipponSteel Corporation 14 per cent. Timing for mining to start is subject to environmental approvals, Rio has said previously. An expansion of West Angelas was green-lit by the EPA in 2019, but plans were taken back to the drawing board following the Juukan Gorge disaster in 2020. Rio will need State Federal approval to begin mining West Angelas. Rio is yet to make a call on an updated cost or expected tonnages from the project once up and running in the next five years, but in 2019 estimated it to be worth about $US579 million. The operation delivered 29.5 million tonnes in 2024. Rio last month opened the $3b Western Range mine and expected it to turn out up to 25mt a year, helping the Anglo-Australian company maintain its yearly production of iron ore above 300MT. The West Angelas workforce was believed to have been hit hardest by a recent jobs cull of about 90 people across three of Rio's Pilbara mines. At the miner's annual general meeting last month, chairman Dominic Barton flagged a $20b spend on new mines, plant and equipment in the Pilbara over the next three years. Rio and other iron ore producers in the region are mining ageing deposits that are turning out lower grade iron ore.
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Broome solar energy project given green light by Environmental Protection Authority
A solar energy project for Broome has been given the green light by the Environmental Protection Authority after finding the project will have little impact on local flora. The proposal comprises 4m-tall solar panels up to 90MW, battery energy storage systems, and a 16km transmission line from a site about 10km north of Broome. EPA chair Darren Walsh said the EPA had published its decision not to assess the Horizon Power project under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. 'After considering public submissions and conducting a preliminary investigation, we consider that the likely environmental effects of the proposal are not so significant to warrant formal assessment by the EPA,' he said. 'This doesn't mean environmental impacts of the project won't be considered at all, merely that they will be mitigated and licensed through other statutory decision-making processes.' As part of its determination, the EPA found vegetation types in the proposal area were typical and widespread within the region and there were no threatened flora species in the development envelope. 'This means that the types of impacts associated with the clearing of native vegetation can be regulated under Part V of the EP Act,' Mr Walsh said. The network connection route would follow the Broome-Cape Leveque Road, Broome Highway, Old Broome Road and Frederick Street to the existing substation in town. The EPA also noted that while there were no registered Aboriginal heritage sites in the development area, the proponent had engaged with Yawuru Aboriginal Corporation and would establish a Heritage Protection Agreement with them. If any Aboriginal heritage sites are identified, the potential impact could be assessed and regulated under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.
West Australian
02-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Public invited to comment on proposed mega mine expansion for first time in forest mining history
For the first time since forest mining began in WA, the public is being invited to comment on a proposal as a mining giant eyes the biggest expansion in decades. The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting feedback on both Alcoa's 2023 - 2027 bauxite mining operations in the Darling Ranges and its Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal for the next 12 weeks. The proposal includes the planned future mining locations within the Huntly mine area, which were first referred for assessment to the EPA in 2020, along with a proposed 5 per cent increase to refining capacity at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery, outlining the mining giant's next 20 years of operation. EPA chair Darren Walsh said the decision to release both documents simultaneously would ensure better consideration of the combined and cumulative impacts. 'A combined public review will also be easier and more efficient for the community and stakeholders,' he said. 'The sheer volume, the unique biodiversity of the northern jarrah forest, and the number of environmental factors to consider means a 12-week public consultation period is entirely appropriate.' Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller said since the proposal was initially delivered in 2020 they have refined their plans based on environmental and social study outcomes, stakeholder feedback and commitment to continuous improvement. However, WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler said if the expansion was allowed to progress the damage done could likely render the ecosystem 'functionally extinct' in the future. Ms Muller said Alcoa had made several important changes to the initial proposal, including the creation of a mining avoidance zone of about 2600ha around Jarrahdale as well as adjusting plans to to avoid areas of environmental and social value including the Bibbulmun Track. 'In addition, we will maintain public access to various other tracks and trails that are used by the local community and visitors to the region,' she said. 'We've also deferred plans to mine in the Reservoir Protection Zones, supporting our track record and commitment to protecting drinking water. 'These changes reflect what we have heard through our consultations.' Parts of Alcoa's past and current mining operations for the 2022-2027 period at Huntly and some areas of the Willowdale area are also before the EPA. Mr Fowler said he and many others had waited 60 years to have the chance to have a say about what Alcoa does and doesn't do and this was an important opportunity for the WA public to have their say. 'These forests are recognised as one of the global biodiversity hotspots — It has the highest biodiversity of any temperate forest in Australia,' he said. 'It's incredibly special and unique because it's so isolated, it's got such a unique biology, like jarrah trees, which you don't find anywhere else in the world — so, this is a global issue.' Mr Fowler said when discussing Alcoa's potential expansion scientists throughout the State have said the move would be an 'extinction level event'. However, Ms Muller said Alcoa has a long and successful track record of responsible operation in the northern jarrah forest. 'We do not mine in any old growth forest or areas of high conservation value and are proud to have rehabilitated more than 75 per cent of the areas cleared for mining, with these at different stages of growth and forest restoration,' she said. 'Importantly, we are accelerating and effectively doubling our rate of rehabilitation from about 500 hectares per year to 1000ha per year by 2027. 'All of this reflects our commitment to environmental excellence.' Mr Fowler said highlighting the lack of clearing in old growth forest was a hollow statement. 'The current definition of old growth is very flawed — even if there's been only one tree logged in there then it's not considered old growth, even if everything around it is ancient,' he said. Mr Fowler said he also has huge concerns with water security for the region, with Alcoa's expansion coming so close to several critical water supply dams throughout the Darling range. Conservation Council of WA nature program manager Rhiannon Hardwick said Alcoa's Pinjarra and Wagerup operations were the fifth highest greenhouse gas emitter in WA and approval for the expansion would allow a further 2.69 million tonnes of GHGs to be released by 2050, adding more strain to forest already impacted by climate change. 'We know that black cockatoos are facing extinction due to habitat destruction, including through the impacts of bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest in the Serpentine-Jarrahdale region, and inappropriate housing developments on rapidly diminishing banksia woodlands,' she said. 'Just this year, South32's bauxite mine expansion was approved, including the clearing of 3800ha of the Northern Jarrah Forest. Alcoa's proposal to clear a further 7500ha of forest in Perth's water catchment zone will be environmentally devastating. The Wilderness Society senior campaigner Jenita Enevoldsen said if approved the proposal flies in the face of the Federal Government's pledge to end extinctions. 'It would give Alcoa permission to bulldoze thousands of football fields of threatened species habitat, critical to the survival of species like the red-tailed black cockatoo, numbat and woylie,' she said. Submissions to the EPA can be made through the Consultation Hub until August 21 where Alcoa's response to the submissions received will be published before the EPA completes its assessments and delivers its report to the Minister for the Environment. Mr Walsh said the EPA intended to produce one report with an anticipated two sets of recommendations. He said the EPA was working towards completing both assessments in the first quarter of 2026 leading to a three-week public appeal period when the minister will consider any appeals before making the final decision on the proposal.
The Age
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Woodside overhauls Browse plan as environmental watchdog goes back to the public
Western Australia's environment watchdog has taken the unusual step of reopening public consultation on Woodside's $30 billion Browse gas export project after the energy giant overhauled the contentious plan. Woodside had sought approval to develop one of the three gas fields it discovered more than 50 years ago, about 425 kilometres north of Broome, and pipe gas 1000 kilometres to the 40-year-old North West Shelf plant for processing. The proposal drew criticism for its proximity to the Scott Reef, endangered turtles as well as the risk of an oil spill, with an FOI application lodged by this masthead revealing the Environmental Protection Authority formed the view that the proposal was unacceptable. Woodside lodged a request to vary the plans in March, six years after the initial proposal was submitted. According to the EPA, the key changes include a reduction in the development envelope, which would mean drilling would no longer overlap the Scott Reef shallow water sea bed habitats or Sandy Islet. Other modifications include removing or relocating drilling units to avoid green turtle habitats, and using new technology to minimise the risk of an oil spill. With the amendment marking the third change to the proposal and years having passed since the last round of public feedback, which drew almost 20,000 submissions, EPA chair Darren Walsh said the organisation had decided to take the unusual step of reopening consultation. 'We think a four-week public review of this latest proposed amendment is appropriate for such a complex assessment of multiple environmental factors across a very sensitive project area,' he said. 'The volume of new technical information accompanying this proposed amendment is also considerable.
