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Boyne Island, Queensland

Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) has been operating since 1982 and is Australia’s second largest aluminium smelter. The smelter connects via a conveyor belt to the Queensland Alumina Limited Refinery, which supplies alumina that is smelted into aluminium at BSL.

BSL is a joint venture between ÌÇÐÄvlogÈë¿Ú(73.5%), YKK Aluminium (9.50%), UACJ Australia (9.29%) and Southern Cross Aluminium (7.71%).

Ship at dock

Repowering BSL with renewable energy

ÌÇÐÄvlogÈë¿Úhas been working on a competitive repowering solution for our Gladstone assets for a number of years. Repowering assets like ours with renewables, when they were built to run on coal and gas is challenging, but we’re making good progress.

More

So far, we’ve agreed to purchase 2.7GW of renewable energy, from new large-scale solar and wind farms in Queensland. 

  • 1.1GW of solar electricity from Upper Calliope solar farm to be built near Gladstone
  • 1.1GW from the Bungaban wind project in Queensland
  • 90% of electricity and battery storage capacity generated from the 600MW solar farm and a 2,400MWh battery storage from the Edify Energy Smoky Creek and Guthries Gap project, which will provide about 30% of the total firming (backup power) needed to repower BSL with renewable energy

Once up and running, these projects have the potential to lower carbon emissions by about 5Mtpa and could generate the equivalent of 10% of Queensland’s current power demand. 

The costs involved in transitioning to renewables are significant, and we’re working closely with the Queensland and Australian Governments to assist Boyne Smelters with the transition to a competitive and repowered future.

Growth

BSL has expanded significantly since the smelter opened in 1982. A series of multimillion dollar investments increased its capacity from 210,000 tonnes of aluminium per year to today’s capacity of more than 500,000 tonnes of aluminium a year.

Employees at Boyne Smelters

BSL communities

We contribute to the broader Gladstone community through our ÌÇÐÄvlogÈë¿Úcommunity giving program, which is supported by Yarwun, Boyne Smelters Limited and QAL.

Since we started with our formal program in 2002, we’ve invested A$7.2 million into the Gladstone community across a range of projects to improve the health, livelihood and welfare of the Gladstone community.

Skills and training  

At BSL we work with Education Queensland and support an onsite learning centre (Education Queensland and Industry Partnership Business, Industry and Tourism skills centre) that helps students get real work experience to complete their studies.

BSL’s apprenticeship program provides people with skills and qualifications to work in the smelting industry. At BSL we pride ourselves on providing quality training in a dynamic environment where apprentices are mentored as they work, allowing them to gain a variety of skills and become experienced tradespeople.

We have a long-standing history of providing apprenticeships, mostly to school leavers looking to start their trade careers, and we generally employ apprentices in the trades of mechanical, electrical, and diesel fitting. Since 2012 we have extended the apprenticeship program to existing employees who wish to build on their experience by gaining a trade.

BSL downloads

Summary Environmental and Social Management Plan
PDF
1.86 MB

Contact BSL

Boyne Smelters Ltd

Handley Drive
Boyne Island QLD 4680
Australia

E: BSL Enquiries
T: 1800 886 414

Postal address

PO Box 524
Gladstone QLD 4680
Australia

Community hotline

T: 1800 886 414