With the acquisition of South32’s aluminium assets, Alcoa will surpass Rio Tinto to become the world's largest bauxite mining companies on an equity-attributable production basis, with global share rising from 8.5% to 13%, Wood Mackenzie reported on Thursday, July 2. In addition to South Africa's Hillside Aluminium smelter and the idled Bayside smelter property in KwaZulu-Natal province, Alcoa will acquire South32’s interests in the Boddington bauxite mine and the Worsley alumina refinery in Western Australia; and the Mineração Rio do Norte bauxite mine and the Alumar alumina refinery and aluminium smelter in Brazil.

Alcoa Announces Strategic Acquisition of South32’s Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum Assets for $4.1 billion

Graham Kerr’s final act as chief will see US giant Alcoa buy the miner’s Australian and Brazilian aluminium assets.

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The Hillside smelter is the only primary aluminium smelter in SA