Alcoa

Alcoa is a US-based mining company currently facing scrutiny and significant penalties due to unlawful land clearing practices in Western Australia. The company has been clearing swathes of jarrah forest for bauxite mining, allegedly including habitat of protected species. This has resulted in an "unprecedented" $55 million penalty imposed by the Australian government. The decision to allow Alcoa to continue operations, despite past illegal clearing for 15 years, was partly influenced by a critical minerals deal between Australia and the US. This situation highlights the tension between resource extraction, environmental protection, and international trade agreements. Alcoa's actions and the subsequent penalties underscore the increasing importance of environmental compliance and sustainability in the mining industry.