Global InformationKurri Kurri aluminium smelter information
Kurri Kurri Aluminium Smelter, circa 70s, Pot Line 1 | |
 | |
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Aluminium smelter |
| Town or city | Kurri Kurri |
| Country | Australia |
| Opened | 14 November 1969 |
| Closed | October 2012 |
| Demolished | 2016-2020 |
| Owner | Norsk Hydro |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Alcan |
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 (t/y) to 180,000 t/y of aluminium by the 1990s.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3][1] 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.[4] 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.[2] The land and some remaining power infrastructure from the smelter was sold in 2020 to developers.[5]
The smelter was part of the local culture and identity of Kurri Kurri and its closure resulted in the direct loss of hundreds of jobs and the indirect loss of thousands of jobs.[6][7]
- ^ a b Proposed expansion to the Alcan-Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter. New South Wales. Department of Environment and Planning. Sydney: Dept. of Environment & Planning. 1981. ISBN 0-7240-4502-3. OCLC 27542863.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b Ramboll Environ (2016). "Remedial Action Plan: Hydro Aluminium Smelter Kurri Kurri".
- ^ Doley, D.; McNaughton, K. (2014). "Vineyard monitoring of fluoride in the Hunter Valley during and after an aluminium smelter operation". Air Quality and Climate Change. 48 (2): 25.
- ^ Bray, Mark; Macneil, Johanna (2009). Report on Workplace Relations and Workplace Change: Circa 2002 to 2007. Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:12was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:16was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Inaugural reunion for Kurri smelter employees". The Advertiser - Cessnock. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2020.