Govt funding pushes $300m HPA First Project to full-scale operations

Alpha HPA Limited’s $300 million HPA First Project in Gladstone is a step closer to full-scale production following the official award of a $21.7 million funding from the Queensland Government, granted through the Industry Partnership Program. 

This significant investment will just start the development of the second stage of the HPA First Project. 

“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 its 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,” Acting Premier Steven Miles said. 

Through this project, Alpha HPA will be commercialising the production of high purity alumina (HPA) as well as related HPA precursor products in Gladstone, utilising the company’s proprietary licenced solvent extraction and refining technology. 

Stage 2 of the HPA First Project will deliver a state-of-the-art facility on a 10-hectare site that will leverage the established Stage 1 facility as well as the latest in process control systems and automation, enabling the production of 10,000 tonnes of HPA equivalent annually. 

“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,” Alpha HPA Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis said. 

The project is expected to create 120 full time jobs for the local community once the facility is operational in 2025 and more than 300 jobs during its construction. 

HPA First Project is going to be fully run by renewable energy. 

A key focus of the Queensland Battery Industry Strategy – which is expected to be released later this year – is building sustainable and diverse supply chains. Investments such as that of Alpha HPA’s will not only help grow the State’s critical minerals processing capability, they will also ensure that new industries like battery manufacturing have the materials needed to deliver safe, high performing products to market. 

“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 passion: 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,” Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Alpha HPA; Australian Mining; Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly