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                  Alcoa wins Kwinana carbon capture

                  Mining Chronicle, Page: 10
                  Monday, 01 December 2008
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            Alcoa ’s Kwinana alumina refinery was recognised for excellence in 
            the Australian mining industry when it was named Minerals Processing 
            Plant of the Year at the annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

            The Minerals Processing Plant of the Year award is presented to an 
            organisation which has improved productivity, safety, and 
            environmental standards or has reached notable milestones using new 
            technology, innovative processes or techniques.

            Kwinana was honored largely for its carbon capture technology which 
            locks up significant amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise 
            be released into the atmosphere.

            The Kwinana plant has the capacity to lock up 70,000 metric tons of 
            carbon dioxide each year.

            "That ’s the equivalent of reducing the emissions of 17,500 cars," 
            Alcoa Technology Delivery Group residue development manager David 
            Cooling said.

            The TDG, Alcoa ’s global refining research and development group 
            based at Kwinana, set a new world benchmark for the alumina industry 
            with the creation of carbon capture.

            "Through our membership of the Kwinana Industries Council, we 
            continue to contribute to research into how Kwinana industries can 
            achieve waste ’ synergies by using each others ’ by-products - 
            carbon capture is one of those ways," Dr Cooling said.

            Alcoa ’s Kwinana refinery locks up carbon dioxide from a nearby 
            ammonia plant, demonstrating how industry can form sustainability 
            partnerships to re-use waste products.

            Alcoa Western Australia residue manager Allan Bermingham said Alcoa 
            was investigating options for deployment of the technology across 
            its three WA refineries.

            He said it could lead to carbon dioxide savings of 300,000 metric 
            per year, which is equivalent to cutting emissions of 70,000 cars.

            Alcoa ’s Western Mining Group was also recognised at the awards 
            ceremony with a highly commended in Innovative Mining Solutions 
            category for a bearing lifting jig developed by employees from 
            mining ’s fixed plant department.

            Mines manager Bill Knight said it was a great example of an 
            engineering solution being applied to solve a safety challenge and 
            demonstrated the creativity of solving problems at the source by the 
            people who perform the work.

            Caption Text:
            Achievement: Alcoa Technology Delivery Group residue development 
            manager David Cooling celebrates Alcoa ’s Kwinana refinery win.