The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has approved a $75 million investment in Alpha HPA, supporting delivery of the HPA First Project in Gladstone, Queensland.
The NRFC investment was made as a cornerstone commitment in a $225 million funding round, acting as a catalyst to successfully crowd in a further $150 million from institutional investors, which included ongoing support from Orica Limited & AustralianSuper to complete the raise.
Related article: Alpha HPA secures funding for stage two HPA First Project
The investment is strongly complementary to Alpha HPA’s existing long-term funding support from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), Export Finance Australia (EFA) and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).
Alpha HPA managing director Rob Williamson said the investment was a significant milestone for both the company and Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector.
“NRFC’s investment is a strong endorsement of Alpha HPA’s strategy, technology and role in building sovereign manufacturing capability in Australia,” Williamson said.
“High Purity Alumina is a critical input into semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries and pharmaceutical manufacturing, where ultra-high purity materials are essential for performance, safety and reliability.
“Our Gladstone HPA First Project positions Australia as a trusted supplier into diversified global supply chains.”
The HPA First Project is designed to operate on 100% renewable electricity, using Alpha HPA’s proprietary processing technology. The process delivers near-zero waste, low-emissions production and a purity profile that differentiates Alpha HPA globally.
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“We are now in the supply chain for semiconductors for AI at small volumes with production from our Stage One facility thanks to the technological advantage our unique process offers over our competitors,” Williamson said.
“The unique selling point of our materials is what underpins customer demand and positions Alpha HPA as a long-term supplier of choice into these expanding, critical global markets.”
