Thursday 24 May 2018

Hansard of the Legislative Council
Greenhouse Gas-Free Aluminium Process - Bell Bay - Possible Trial

Mr FINCH (Rosevears)  to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT
Given the owner of the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, Rio Tinto, plans with Alcoa to introduce the world's first greenhouse gas-free aluminium production process in Canada, did the Tasmanian Government try to trial the process at Bell Bay using Tasmania's clean hydroelectric power?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for Rosevears for his question.  The Rio Tinto announcement on this matter states that the technology developed by Alcoa represents the culmination of decades' worth of research and development involving a host of patents and intellectual property.  The Government's energy policy unit is not aware of any approach from Rio Tinto or Alcoa concerning their technology.