Queensland Alumina Limited

Queensland Alumina Limited
The refinery in 2008
Map
OperatedSince 1967 (1967)
LocationGladstone, Queensland
Coordinates23°52′1″S 151°17′25″E / 23.86694°S 151.29028°E / -23.86694; 151.29028
IndustryAlumina refinery
Owner(s)Rio Tinto Alcan (80%)
Rusal (20%)

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) is one of the largest alumina refineries by alumina production capacity in the world,[1][2] located in Parsons Point, South Trees, Gladstone, Queensland, Australia.

The refinery was planned in 1964[3] and has been operating since 1967,[4] the refinery has a capacity to produce 3.95 million tonnes of alumina a year. In 1981 the output was at a quarterly basis over 600,000 tonnes per quarter.[5]

At times of lower demand, operations have been altered.[6][7] Subsequent rises in demand have seen expansion in output and employment.[8]

QAL has been operated by a range of consortium partners of international aluminium producers over time. Comalco brought in to the consortium in 1969.[9] In 1982 it was owned Comalco (30.3%), Kaiser Aluminum (28.3%), Alcan (21.4%), and Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann (20%).[10]

Since April 2005, it has been owned by Rio Tinto Alcan (80%) and Rusal (20%).[11] In September 2017 the QAL celebrated 50 years of operation.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Q. Alumina refinery to be world's biggest". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12, 265. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 March 1969. p. 15. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Queensland Alumina's ' output up to 2.4m tonnes". The Canberra Times. Vol. 55, no. 16, 539. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 January 1981. p. 19. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "£52 Million Alumina Plant Plan". The Canberra Times. Vol. 38, no. 10, 885. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 June 1964. p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Queensland Alumina Ltd (1967), Queensland Alumina : official opening procedure, August 1967, Thursday August 3 - Friday August 4, Gladstone, Qld. Queensland Alumina, archived from the original on 16 October 2022, retrieved 13 October 2017
  5. ^ "Alumina record". The Canberra Times. Vol. 55, no. 16, 721. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 July 1981. p. 27. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Alumina troubles not long term". The Canberra Times. Vol. 46, no. 13, 019. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 January 1972. p. 19. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Alumina shut-down". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 17, 031. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 May 1982. p. 20. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Alumina plant to lift output". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 421. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 June 1983. p. 13. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Comalco gains interest in Q'ld Alumina". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 457. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 November 1969. p. 22. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Alumina shut-down". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 17, 031. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 May 1982. p. 20. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ In the aluminium power play, water works Archived 16 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine The Age 23 April 2005
  12. ^ Christine Mckee, (13 September 2017), QAL celebrates 50 years in Gladstone, The Observer (Gladstone) Archived 13 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 October 2017
  13. ^ Queensland Alumina Limited (1975), Queensland Alumina : the giant that never sleeps, the Company, archived from the original on 19 October 2022, retrieved 13 October 2017