South32 Receives ARENA Funding for Clean Energy Transition in Alumina Refining

Published: May 27, 2025 16:45

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[South32 Secures ARENA Support for Clean Energy Transition in Alumina Refining]

South32 has been awarded $4.4 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to explore clean energy alternatives for steam production at its Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia. As part of an $8.72 million prefeasibility project, the study will investigate electric boilers and mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) as potential solutions to reduce the refinery’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Alumina refining, which heavily depends on steam for the Bayer Process, is one of Australia’s most emission-intensive industrial activities. Steam production alone is responsible for around 70% of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. By shifting to electricity sourced from renewables, South32 hopes to significantly cut emissions at Worsley, supporting its broader targets of a 50% reduction by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

This initiative is backed by ARENA’s $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream, which is helping heavy industries adopt cleaner technologies. Similar efforts are underway at Alcoa and Rio Tinto facilities, reflecting a sector-wide move toward decarbonisation.

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