Australia’s Largest Aluminium Smelter Faces Uncertain Future Amid Soaring Energy Costs

Consultation begins as Rio Tinto warns rising power prices could force closure by 2028.
Australia’s Largest Aluminium Smelter Faces Uncertain Future Amid Soaring Energy Costs
Mining giant Rio Tinto's corporate office in Perth, Australia on Sept. 20, 2025. Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times
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Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, Tomago Aluminium, has launched a consultation process with employees as it considers the possible closure of its operations, citing an inability to secure affordable electricity beyond 2028.

The Hunter Valley-based facility, which produces nearly 40 percent of Australia’s aluminium, said despite two years of market sounding, it has not identified a viable energy contract once its current supply deal with AGL expires in December 2028.

Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].