Alcoa Mines Australia’s Forest

PublicSource investigates — The future of a Pittsburgh-based metals icon collides with the survival of a unique and fragile forest.

One man is standing at a table and another sits on the floor, with stacks papers in a dining room.

Australians call on Pittsburgh journalists to report on Alcoa’s impact to their ancient forest

Julie Grant·June 13, 2025

Two PublicSource reporters visited western Australia, where Pittsburgh-based aluminum-giant Alcoa wants to expand its mining operations near a unique ecosystem.

Health Latest Stories Pollution Technology

Two men with their backs to the camera,wearing cowboy hats ,look out over a mine in the distance.

Will Australia revisit the deal that led a Pittsburgh firm to depend on the ore beneath its trees?

PublicSource·May 23, 2025

Alcoa’s Western Australia division is one of the world's largest alumina producing operations. Some say its decades-old agreement puts drinking water at risk.

Conservation Economy Latest Stories Pollution Water

A vast industrial complex sits in the middle of a reddish piles of waste.

Alcoa’s Australian refineries drove flight from two towns, and its waste threatens a third

PublicSource·May 22, 2025

Some residents say toxic dust from Alcoa's three sprawling industrial facilities along the southwestern coast of Australia is making them sick.

Economy Health Pollution

How Pittsburgh’s Alcoa is undermining a rare forest to fuel its global aluminum empire

PublicSource·May 19, 2025

A one-of-a-kind ecosystem lies above the bauxite Alcoa says it needs for its future. The company’s request to expand mining in Australia is drawing objections from scientists and the land’s original inhabitants.

Conservation Economy

Username
Password
Prove your humanity 6 + 2 =
	Remember Me Lost your password?

Full Episodes

Episode for June 20, 2025

Episode for June 13, 2025

Episode for June 6, 2025

Trump on Earth

Why Trump’s budget bill could mean ‘America’s electric vehicle surrender’

Atlantic Shores seeks to cancel offshore wind contract with N.J., but says it hasn’t abandoned the project

Despite court order, black lung screening program still not fully functional

Alcoa Mines Australia’s Forest

Australians call on Pittsburgh journalists to report on Alcoa’s impact to their ancient forest

Will Australia revisit the deal that led a Pittsburgh firm to depend on the ore beneath its trees?

Alcoa’s Australian refineries drove flight from two towns, and its waste threatens a third

How Pittsburgh’s Alcoa is undermining a rare forest to fuel its global aluminum empire