A new Gladstone critical minerals processor has received more support from the Queensland Government, for full-scale production at a $300 million-plus plant.
Alpha HPA Limited is set to begin development of the second stage of its HPA First Project after receiving up to $21.7 million in funding under the Queensland Government’s Industry Partnership Program.
The project is commercialising production of high purity alumina (HPA) and related HPA precursor products in Gladstone using Alpha HPA’s proprietary licensed solvent extraction and refining technology.
Building diverse and sustainable supply chains will be a key focus of the Queensland Battery Industry Strategy that is due to be released later this year. Investments like Alpha’s not only grow Queensland’s critical minerals processing capability they ensure that new industries, like battery manufacturing have the materials to bring safe, high performing products to market.
Acting Premier Steven Miles said investments like Alpha HPA’s are growing Queensland’s critical minerals processing capability and ensuring new industries have the materials to deliver safe, sustainable, high performing products to market.
“In 2021, Alpha HPA chose Queensland as the home for this exciting project, fast forward to today and the company can now move ahead to Stage 2 and plan for full-scale production thanks to assistance from the Palaszczuk Government.”
Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said: “The HPA First Project aligns with our objectives to grow the state’s critical minerals processing capabilities to support downstream value-adding and export opportunities in new industries such as battery manufacturing.”
Alpha HPA Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis said: “Assistance through the government’s Industry Partnership Program for the HPA First Project builds further momentum for the project and further growth of local supply chains.
“In 2021 we signed the Central Queensland Statement of Cooperation with the Queensland Government, this commitment provided certainty for established and new industries in the Gladstone region to contribute to the goal of net zero emissions manufacturing.”
The High Purity Alumina produced will be used in items such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting, lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.
When Stage 2 is complete, Alpha’s disruptive, low-carbon process technology will enable extraction and purification of aluminium from an industrial feedstock to produce 4N (>99.99% purity) alumina and 5N (>99.999% purity) aluminium salts for sale into high technology markets for products including LED lighting, lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and consumer electronics.