Bauxite is refined into alumina through the Bayer Process summarised below.
Alumina (aluminium oxide) is a white granular material produced from the refining of bauxite. Around 90 per cent of the world's alumina is smelted to produce aluminium metal. Around two tonnes of alumina is required to produce one tonne of aluminium.
Western Australian alumina had total sales value of $4.1 billion in 2013, an increase of nearly 13 per cent supported by a 6 per cent increase in quantity sold. Alumina was the fourth-largest sector of the State’s resources industry and represents one of the State’s key value-added products. (Source: DMP)
