Gladstone high purity alumina plant to scale-up thanks to Palaszczuk Government support

• The Palaszczuk Government has awarded Alpha HPA a more than $21M Industry Partnership Program grant for Stage 2 of the HPA First project.
• Alpha HPA will develop the second stage of its $300 million-plus Gladstone facility so it can move to full-scale production of high purity alumina
• The plant will create up to 117 jobs and stronger supply chain links between critical mineral production and manufacturing

A new Gladstone critical minerals processor has received more support from the Palaszczuk 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.

Acting Premier Steven Miles and Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher announced the funding while inspecting stage one of the project in Gladstone today.

The project is commercialising production of high purity alumina (HPA) and related HPA precursor products in Gladstone using Alpha HPA’s proprietary licenced 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.

Quotes attributable to Acting Premier Steven Miles:

“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.

“The Queensland Government’s Industry Partnership Program is one way we are supporting the growth of companies like Alpha HPA in priority industry sectors.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher:

“The Palaszczuk Government’s support of this exciting next stage is more evidence of our commitment to a clean, green future for Queensland.

“Alpha HPA’s HPA First Project brings together two of my greatest passions: Gladstone and manufacturing. 

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Alpha HPA Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis:

“Alpha HPA is delighted to receive this financial support for the HPA First Project from the Queensland Government.

“We welcome the State’s recognition of opportunities in the production and processing of critical minerals for new-economy products.

“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.”

Further information:

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.

Further information is available from Alpha HPA.

ENDS