The NRFC has made a $75 million equity investment in Alpha HPA, which the company will use to build the world's largest single manufacturing facility for high purity alumina (HPA). Upon completion, the facility will be Australia’s first commercial-scale HPA facility, and will be capable of producing 10 kilotons of HPA per annum.
The NRFC’s investment will enable Alpha HPA to increase HPA production to meet the growing demand from the AI, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and lithium-ion battery sectors. Alpha HPA’s proprietary processing technology has lower energy and temperature requirements and produces less waste, delivering a significantly lower-waste, lower-emissions product than conventional HPA production methods.
About Alpha HPA
Alpha HPA is a Gladstone-based industrial minerals company that has commercialised the world’s first adoption of the solvent extraction purification technique to produce HPA with fewer critical impurities, less waste, and lower emissions.
Alpha HPA has been operation Stage One of its project – a small-scale commercial production facility since 2022. The NRFC’s investment, along with additional private capital will allow Alpha HPA to complete Stage Two of its expansion, which involves building the world's largest single HPA manufacturing facility.
Investment impact
Commercialising Australian innovation
Alpha HPA is the first in the world to commercialise the solvent extraction purification technique to produce HPA with fewer critical impurities, less waste, and lower emissions. The NRFC’s investment will allow Alpha HPA to expand its operation by building the world’s largest single HPA manufacturing facility that will be capable of producing 10 kilotons of HPA per annum.
Reducing carbon emissions
Alpha HPA’s first-of-a-kind processing technique requires lower temperatures than other methods and uses 100% renewable electricity, meaning that it produces around 70% less emissions than current HPA production methods. The facility is also located adjacent to a facility owned and operated by its key strategic partner Orica, which enables a closed-loop recycling arrangement in which Alpha HPA utilises reagents supplied by Orica and returns by-products for reuse.
Boosting supply chain resilience
HPA was added to Australia’s Critical Minerals list in 2022 due to its status as a critical input material for semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries, pharmaceuticals, and AI data centres. The NRFC’s investment is helping to boost production of this critical mineral, providing greater access to Australian manufacturers and opportunities to export it around the world.
Creating jobs
Alpha HPA currently employs approximately 130 people across its operations. The NRFC’s investment will create up to 420 temporary jobs during construction and commissioning, and an additional 120 ongoing full-time positions over the 25-year operational life of the facility.
Crowding-in finance
As part of a $225 million funding round, the NRFC’s cornerstone commitment acted as a catalyst, helping to crowd in the remaining $150 million from private investors to complete the raise.