LF.

Some facts rather than flatulence please. All you have offered is your opinion.

You must have missed the following in one of my earlier posts,SM.

The claim that the CT is a big factor behind a decision to close down a business is factually dealt with here http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/abbotts-carbon-tax-deception-point and here http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/carbon-tax-not-linked-smelter-closure-howes. and http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/kurri-kurri-smelter-hydro-s-polluting-problem-child

LF,

The climate spectator is hardly known as being unbiased to the carbon tax, in the article it quotes the power usage of the plant as:

"the smelter consumes 16.2MWh of electricity per tonne of aluminium. This is 22 per cent more than Hydro’s newest smelter Qatalum, which consumes 13.3MWh"

The increase per MWhr is $21 giving an increase in costs of $340/t and $280/t for the state of the art plant. Or an increase of $41m p.a. Even if the plant was state of the art, it would kill it. An increase of $280/t when prices are $2100 is a game changer.

The carbon tax will effectively kill every aluminium smelter in the country irrespective of how efficient it is. The others are probably only hanging in for Abbott to repeal the tax.

From http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/abbotts-carbon-tax-deception-point "The fixed $23 carbon price due to come in on July 1 might see the costs of production rise by $4 million each year for Kurri Kurri (based on current production of 120,000 metric tonnes), once free permits are taken into account. However, it’s also possible that Kurri Kurri’s electricity contract may prevent Delta Electricity from passing through any increase in costs associated with the carbon price, similar to what appears to have been in place with the other NSW aluminium smelter, Tomago."

4 million, mitigated by a clause in the coal contract? ? Hardly game-changing for an operation of Hydro's scale. Now Abbott's bleating over a couple of flight schedule cancellations when the airline/s is/are releasing planes for charter to miners, flying with the same fuel, emitting the same CO2.

Expect plenty more of "the carbon tax made me do it!"

LF,

Aluminium produces a small amount of CO2 while smelting, which is probably where you get the $4m carbon tax it pays, however, it indirectly pays 10x that due to increased electricity prices.

Worked @ Gove (Rio Tinto - ALCAN) for 3 months last year. The G3 expansion project completed a few years back with a huge gadget to reclaim fumes etc cost $500,000,0000 never used & still sitting idle because:
"... the airborne effluents would precipitate and kill off Yolgnu 'Dreaming' sites in vicinity .... "

Astronomical amounts of royalties paid in pandering to Run & Ping You mob & hangers off. All of it nothing but a huge tax write off. 'Red' side & 'White' side of the show are accidents waiting to happen. Old corroded out structures, busted flanges leaking high temperature caustic soda solution over all & sundry. Oil fired generator went offline so old operators flown in from interstate & overseas paid upwards of $300/hour as consultants because the skills base has left years ago. Lip service paid to safety and a pervading rip, defecate or bust to keep it all going. Pilot plant commenced for water re-treatment of some process water in progress as another token towards their Green credentials.
Small wonder that alumina is in trouble?