A proud history
BELL Bay Aluminium holds a unique place in Tasmanian and Australian history, becoming the first aluminium smelter in the southern hemisphere when it began production on 23 September 1955.
Located just south of George Town in Northern Tasmania, near the mouth of the Tamar River, the smelter began operation as the Australian Aluminium Production Commission, a joint venture between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments.
Planning began in the 1940s and the ambitious construction project took more than six years to complete.
At a time when Tasmania was better known for its apples than large industry, the venture was initiated primarily to overcome the difficulties of importing aluminium during wartime.
The Bell Bay site was chosen because of its deep water port facilities, Tasmania’s clean hydroelectric-generating capacity and competitively priced electricity.
In 1960 Comalco purchased the smelter, and in 2000 Rio Tinto purchased Comalco.
Some 62 years later, Bell Bay Aluminium is now operated by Rio Tinto’s Pacific Aluminium division.
Bell Bay Aluminium directly and indirectly employs more than 1500 Tasmanians and contributes $690 million per annum to Tasmania’s Gross State Product.
The smelter produces primary aluminium in the form of ingot, block and T-bar.
The majority of metal is cast to customer requirements, as either pure aluminium or aluminium alloys.
More than 90 per cent of the metal produced at Bell Bay Aluminium is exported.
Some metal is sold directly in a hot state for the production of aluminium powders and pastes.
Over the past six decades through collaboration, innovation and investment, the operation has grown from producing just 1200 tonnes in its first year to about 190,000 per annum today.