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*National Research Flagships
The National Research Flagship program – one of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia – is specifically designed to integrate and focus our national scientific resources on challenges of the utmost importance to Australia.
The program is a key element of the Australian Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability – Building Our Future Through Science and Innovation package, which totals $5.3 billion over seven years from 2004-05.
The six current ‘Flagships‘ are: Energy Transformed, Food Futures, Light Metals, Preventative Health, Water for a Healthy Country and Wealth from Oceans.

THE Australian bauxite, alumina and aluminium industries have developed on the back of the country’s natural resource endowments, delivering economic growth and regional development and supplying world and national demand.

With the right policy settings, sound investment and market conditions, the industry will continue to develop as a key sector in the economy. Significantly, CSIRO research into light metals will also play a crucial role in the industry’s future.

The aluminium industry has become a major source of export income. Its annual export earnings now average more than A$8 billion, with a capital replacement value of more than A$30 billion.

Australia is also the world’s largest producer of bauxite, at about 60 million tonnes a year, and the world’s leading producer of smelter-grade alumina, at 17 million tonnes in 2004. Alumina production increased in 2005 and will continue to increase in 2006, while aluminium metal production at 1.9 million tonnes a year is at its highest recorded level.

The downstream sector – rolling mills, extrusion plants and die-casting facilities, and recycling and re-melting facilities – has been the first to feel the sharp edge of global competition. Technology advancement is thus vital to sustaining these activities in a robust, commercial environment.

The continuing role of the Australian industry in the global market depends on its ability to remain competitive across all operations. Only with focused Australian-specific research can this be assured.

The Australian Government’s focus on technology, along with long-term solutions to sustainable greenhouse abatement, through the Energy White Paper is also in line with the industry’s view. We have already begun long-term investment programs to improve energy efficiency, reduce the energy intensity of our products and deliver sustainable abatement of greenhouse gases.

The goals of the CSIRO Light Metals Flagship parallel the identified needs for the future Australian aluminium industry. The Australian community also relies on the realisation of these goals to ensure that the industry continues to contribute strongly to our future welfare.

RON KNAPP
Executive Director
Australian Aluminium Council

Last Updated: February 10, 2006
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