AWAC has a significant physical footprint which encompasses the land it uses and leases for mining, refining and smelting activities in:
In the Darling Range in Western Australia, alone AWAC has mine leases for over 7,000 km2. (For more information on mine leases see 20F pages 23 to 30.)
Bauxite mining, which is done in relatively shallow pits, disturbs the land and disrupts its biodiversity. Mining accounts for the majority of land that is disturbed as a result of AWACs operations. As the joint venture is committed to minimising the disturbance of the original habitat and work closely with community and regulatory stakeholders to restore those lands we do impact to the most productive use possible, including, where feasible, re-establishing pre-operating conditions.
The rehabilitation target is to achieve a five-year rolling average land disturbance/mine rehabilitation ratio of 0.75:1 by 2020 and 1:1 by 2030.
| 2009 | 1:1 |
| 2010 | 1.15:1 |
| 2020 goal | 0.75:1 |
| 2030 goal | 1:1 |
The 2020 goal equates to rehabilitating four hectares (9.9 acres) of land for every three hectares (7.4 acres) that is disturbed. This ratio is to reduce legacy disturbance and keep rehabilitation current with future mining disturbance, thereby avoiding creation of an inventory of disturbed mine lands.
| Area Disturbed Annual | Area Rehabilitated Annual | |
| 2006 | 1,235 | 1,634 |
| 2007 | 1,451 | 1,056 |
| 2008 | 1,445 | 973 |
| 2009 | 1,224 | 627 |
| 2010 | 2,087 | 985 |
*expressed in hectares
Caption: This table represents the total figures for Alcoa’s integrated operations. However the vast majority of disturbance and subsequent rehabilitation is the result of AWAC’s mining and infrastructure activities. The increase in disturbed land in 2010 was due to the expansion of AWAC’s mine at Juruti in Brazil.
AWAC’s bauxite mines in Western Australia utilise the most advanced mine rehabilitation practices which include returning the original topsoil to the area and supplementing it with nursery stock if required. Learnings from these practices are transferred across the enterprise, particularly to the Brazilian operations in Juruti which were substantially expanded in 2010.
Biodiversity management is a major part of the mine rehabilitation process. It is an essential practice for operations near regions where there are significant flora and fauna species (such as the jarrah forest Darling Range of Western Australia, and at Juruti near the Amazon in Brazil).
Alcoa is currently refining its definition and quantification of ‘high biodiversity’ and as part of this process has initiated two biodiversity pilots at AWAC sites in 2010.
Prior to developing an area, Alcoa conducts extensive evaluations of the areas biodiversity to determine future rehabilitation programs. Evaluations include monitoring plant growth, density and diversity. A review is also conducted of birds, mammals, reptiles and including insects.
In Western Australia the key biodiversity performance target is to re-establish the same level of plant species richness in rehabilitated areas as exists in the un-mined jarrah forest. Any mine land-rehabilitation program or alternative land-use decision is discussed with stakeholders to take into consideration their experiences and knowledge.
(Alcoa has committed to not explore or mine in World Heritage sites.)
For more on Alcoa’s land rehabilitation process click here