page_title: Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter
section_title: Composition
hierarchical_section_title: Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter / Background / Composition
context_page_description: The Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter was located in Kurri Kurri, Australia and operated from 1969 until 2012. Developed by Alcan Australia Limited, the Smelter experienced a change of ownership three times during its operations. Through gradual expansion, the Smelter increased its production capacity from 30,000 tonnes per year to 180,000 t/y of aluminium metal by the 1990s. The Kurri Kurri Smelter was engaged in operations in four areas; potlines for the melting of alumina, a cast house for casting of molten metal, a carbon plant for baking anodes, and anode plants for the manufacturing of carbon anodes.
  Environmental concerns were raised over the smelter’s production and expansion, resulting in the establishment of emissions reduction technologies and ongoing environmental monitoring over the lifetime of the Smelter. Challenging industrial relations have been documented throughout the Smelter’s operation, mainly during the 1990s and 2000s due to changing management and structure of the plant. The Smelter’s official closure in 2014 has since been followed by ongoing developments to remediate the land for its use for residential, industrial and conservation reasons.
context_section_description: The Smelter was originally owned by Alcan Australia limited, subsidiary to the Canadian based company, Alcan Aluminium limited. In 1981 the Smelter was owned 70% by Alcan Aluminium Limited and 30% by other Australian Financial institutions. In 1995 the Smelter transitioned to being wholly Australian owned as Capral Aluminium. This was followed by purchase of the Smelter in 2000 by VAW, a German Aluminium Company, as Capral was unable to support further production by the Smelter. Some commentators believe this sale was a result of Capral’s inability to secure cheap electricity to service the Smelter. During the turn of the century, Kurri Kurri’s Plant was one of six aluminium smelters in Australia, making up 10% of domestic production and employing 2500 people across all operations.
  The Smelter used Alcan end-to-end prebake technology.
caption: Alcan Logo