HISTORY

THE BEGINNING

The site of Tomago Aluminium is rich in industrial history with a coal mine occupying the site in the early 19th century and then the Courtaulds Textile Factory before it closed in 1976.
Five years later (1981) construction of Tomago Aluminium began with aluminium production starting on schedule in September 1983, and the first potline in full production in January 1984.
The second potline started in May 1984 and reached full operation in October 1984.
At that time, Tomago Aluminium was the first large scale AP18 plant to be constructed in the world, with annual production capacity approximately 250,000 tonnes.

THE EXPANSION

Following a public inquiry and formal NSW Government approval on 11 January 1991, Tomago's participants decided on January 14th 1991 to proceed with an expansion of the smelter to construct a third potline and additional facilities to increase the plant's production by 140,000 tonnes per year.
On announcing the approval for the expansion, the then NSW Minister for State Development, John Hannaford, described this project as "the biggest single industrial project to be undertaken in NSW in a decade", with the original smelter construction marking the previous milestone.
Major construction commenced in April 1991, and the Potline 3 start up was completed during the first half of 1993.
Tomago's expansion created approximately 900 new jobs in the region (including an additional 150 positions in the smelter), and significantly increased activity through the Port of Newcastle with delivery of raw materials and the export of finished products.
Stage 2 of the expansion project, to extend Potlines 1 and 2, was approved by the company owners in November 1996, the project commenced mid 1997, and was completed in December 1998.

AP22

In early 2002, Tomago Aluminium’s participants decided to proceed with another major project, upgrading the smelter to AP22 technology.
Work on the upgrade commenced in March 2002. Construction is complete and we are currently operating at around 520,000 tonnes per annum with the full potential expected to be reached in 2007.. At the peak of the project, approximately 50 people were working on the management team and around 300 personnel were involved with the construction.
Completion of the project will see production capacity increase from 460,000 tonnes per annum to 525,000 tonnes per annum with an operating amperage increase from 180kA to 225kA.