Alcoa's proposed $1.5 billion expansion of its Wagerup alumina refinery moved a step closer today after the Environmental Protection Authority released its formal assessment of the project.
Alcoa's proposed $1.5 billion expansion of its Wagerup alumina refinery, which has been heavily criticised by environmental and community health activists, moved a step closer today after the Environmental Protection Authority released its formal assessment of the project.
Alcoa of Australia managing director Wayne Osborn said he was confident Alcoa could meet the conditions recommended by the EPA for the project to proceed.
"This is a pleasing outcome from such a comprehensive environmental assessment and we now look forward to Environment Minister Edward's decision on the project," Mr Osborn said.
However, Acting Environment Minister Mark McGowan said the EPA advice was only the first step in an assessment process.
"The EPA advice is now subject to a two-week public appeals process where stakeholders and the community can comment on the advice given by the EPA to Environment Minister Judy Edwards," he said.
"When the appeals period closes, the independent Appeals Convenor will carefully examine the objections and comments before giving his advice to the Minister."
Mr McGowan said the Minister would not make a decision on the proposal until the advice of the Appeals Convenor had been received.
Even if the project does gain government approval, it may be deferred because of the impact of rising construction and labour costs.
In its statement, Alcoa said early WA Government approval of the project would allow it to move into the detailed engineering phase and focus on a viable execution strategy taking account of the WA construction market and world market conditions.
In its report the EPA states: "The studies and investigations carried out to date have consistently shown that predicted and measured ground level concentrations of compounds emitted from the refinery meet established national and international air quality health standards. The studies and investigations have not demonstrated any specific causal link between: individual compounds or mixture of compounds emitted from the refinery; or particular refinery sources, and health issues reported in the area."
Mr Osborn said: "Alcoa has already committed that Wagerup Three will meet rigorous conditions to provide the community with confidence that the expansion is safe and responsible."
"The EPA recommendations confirm the Wagerup refinery meets the most stringent environmental and health guidelines and will continue to do so under an expansion.
"We have addressed the issues between Alcoa and the community and worked hard to rebuild their trust and confidence in us."
The proposed expansion involved building a third production unit at the Wagerup refinery and significantly upgrading existing plant to improve production efficiency and environmental outcomes.
In its statement, Alcoa said the project would deliver major economic benefits, including 3,000 new direct and indirect jobs, over $11 million a year extra State Government revenue and $17 billion in additional export revenue over the project life.
The company also said there would be over 1,500 direct jobs created during the construction phase and over 150 new permanent Alcoa jobs with benefits for regional businesses and communities through the extra work opportunities and local spending.
Alcoa has forecast alumina production capacity at the refinery to increase from 2.6 million tonnes a year to around 4.7 million tonnes a year.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the EPA's recommendations confirm the expansion proposal meets the most stringent health and environment guidelines and the WA public would find the EPA's evaluation of health concerns reassuring.
