Refinery shut down ‘no threat’ to supply chain of alumina in Australia

Resources Minister Madeleine King says the shutdown of the Western Australian Kwinana aluminium refinery by Alcoa will have “no threat” to the supply chain of alumina in Australia. Ms King’s comments come as there are concerns hundreds of workers could lose their jobs following the announcement from aluminium refiner, Alcoa, plans to shut down operations in Kwinana in Western Australia. The resources minister says there will be a “minor decrease in the supply of alumina” following the shutdown. She says Australia will remain the “second largest producer” of alumina in the entire world. “There is no threat whatsoever to the supply chain of alumina in this country and there is no threat to the sovereign capability of Australians being able to refine bauxite to make alumina in this country.”