Biodiversity
Restoring pre-mining biodiversity requires areas to be protected from erosion and for the original topsoil to be managed to retain its value as a seed source and growing medium. | Learn more
Mining and Refining
Where does primary aluminium come from?
It’s a three-step process: First, mining: a sedimentary rock called bauxite, which has a high aluminium content, is extracted from the ground. Second, refining: the bauxite is processed into aluminium oxide (known as alumina). Third, smelting: alumina is reduced by electrolysis to produce pure aluminium.
Bauxite was discovered in southern France in 1821. Now, over 200 years later, bauxite mining is concentrated in Guinea, Australia, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, with several other countries making up the balance.
Increasingly sustainable bauxite mining is a key objective for the aluminium industry, and the challenges are unique to each mine and region.
From responsible sourcing to biodiversity, and from community engagement to energy efficiency, explore these pages to understand the Mining & Refining process and why sustainability and community are at its heart.
Mining & Refining facts
1 | Sustainable mining
Sustainable mining operations protect, restore, and rehabilitate the biodiversity and ecosystem of the areas in which they are located.
2 | Reduced energy
The energy intensity of alumina production has been reduced by almost 20% since 2006.
3 | Community support
On average each mining operation invests over US$ 400,000 in support of community programmes.