Alcoa Kwinana Alumina Project

Sedgman’s ability to bring new solutions and minerals processing leadership to an increasing number of commodities including alumina processing is evidenced by our role in successfully delivering the Alumina tailings (red mud) filtration plant and dry tails stack facility at Alcoa of Australia’s Kwinana alumina refinery in Western Australia.

Applying large plate and frame filters to red mud disposal is a first in Australia, and for Alcoa. Sedgman’s solution included integrating the largest plate and frame filters in the world at the time. This materials handling system was designed for very high availability and incorporated world class spreading and stacking technology.

The system filtered the red mud bauxite residue and used a system of mobile stacking conveyors to dry stack the filtered material onto the specially designed stockpile area. The plant produces lower moisture content bauxite tailings allowing dry stacking in existing storage areas.

As the main integrating contractor, our team’s scope of work included the following:

• Engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and performance testing of the plant and associated process infrastructure
• Construction was carried out in a very confined area within an operating site
• Over 350,000 man-hours were expended over a 15 month construction period without a recordable safety incident

Sedgman’s multidiscipline engineering skills, project management expertise and long track record implementing filtration technology and materials handling systems ensured successful project completion.