Australian mining company Alcoa has signed an agreement with FYI Resources for the development of high purity alumina (HPA) refining technologies. Alcoa has an annual capacity to produce 17mn mt of alumina.
FYI, an Australian resources company, is working on producing HPA alumina to boost supply. FYI managing director Roland Hill said that commercialization of HPA business model will help in co-developing the HPA process flowsheet and refining technologies.
This agreement will help both the companies in upgrading their technical capabilities to produce HPA and could lead to a joint venture between them.
Alcoa earlier announced its plans to boost the Pinjarra alumina refinery’s capacity in Western Australia to 5.25mn mt from 5mn mt after wrapping up operations in Spain. Alcoa’s three refineries located in the western part of Australia are the single largest source of alumina. Alcoa Australia’s alumina production rose to 3.37mn mt in Q 2, 2020, up from 3.30mn mt in the same period the prior year.