The Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) Refinery is one of the largest alumina refineries in the world, located at Yarwun, about 10km north-west of Gladstone in Central Queensland.

The refinery is operated by Queensland Alumina Limited, a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto, Rusal and other international partners, and has been in operation since 1967.

QAL processes bauxite into alumina using the Bayer refining process, with bauxite sourced primarily from mines at Weipa on Cape York Peninsula.

The refinery has a production capacity of around 3.8–4Mt of alumina per year, making it a key supplier to aluminium smelters both in Australia and overseas.

The operation includes extensive infrastructure such as digestion units, precipitation circuits, calciners and residue storage areas.

Alumina produced at QAL is exported through the nearby Port of Gladstone, supplying global markets including Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Employing hundreds of workers and supporting a large contractor workforce, QAL is a cornerstone of the Gladstone industrial region and a critical component of Queensland’s aluminium supply chain.

The refinery continues to invest in efficiency improvements and emissions reduction initiatives to support long-term sustainable operations.