Alcoa Australia (ASX:AAI) has agreed with the Australian Government to further modernise the approvals framework for its Western Australian mining activities under the nation’s federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.
The company will undertake a strategic assessment of current and potential future mining areas through to 2045, supported by the federal government’s recent changes to the EPBC Act. The assessment will provide a holistic view of potential impacts to significant flora and fauna over a broad geographic area and will provide stakeholders with greater clarity about the long-term future of mining operations.
Operations at the Huntly and Willowdale mines will continue while the strategic assessment takes place under a national interest exemption granted by the Australian Government.
Alcoa will also continue to limit clearing to 800 hectares per year, increase annual rates of new rehabilitation to 1,000 hectares per year by 2027 and will deliver environmental offsets according to EPBC Act requirements.
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) is encouraged by the Australian Government’s decision to grant a national interest exemption to Alcoa Australia to conduct a comprehensive strategic assessment.
The outcome allows Alcoa to undergo a more rigorous method of assessment while guaranteeing operations and thousands of jobs in the local Western Australian community.
CEO Tania Constable says the recent changes to Australia’s environmental laws will have an impact on the sector.
“The crucial next step is for governments to work together on accreditation arrangements so our members don’t have to submit similar information to different processes,” Constable says.
Following the federal government’s decision, the MCA calls for rapid finalisation of workable national environmental standards and bilateral assessment and approval accreditation agreements between the Australian Government and states and territories under the EPBC Act 1999 to reduce mine approval delays and support a more competitive Australian mining sector.
MCA says this would be a ‘major’ step forward for Australian mining companies which currently face a lengthy, complex and double-track assessment and approval process.
Alcoa provides direct and indirect employment for 5,500 people and supports thousands more jobs in the communities where it operates. In 2024, the Australian operations invested $2.7 billion with over 1,700 suppliers.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Alcoa
