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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Media Contact:
       Hisa Turner
       hisa@lca.org        

       
       
       
      ^{State and Industry Leaders Work to Protect Louisiana and U.S.        Alumina Dominance}
        

BATON ROUGE - June 12, 2025 - Atalco’s        Gramercy facility in St. James Parish is the last remaining producer of        alumina in the United States, a resource essential to the aerospace,        national defense, and manufacturing sectors. The company is currently        facing market attacks from Chinese state-sponsored product dumping,        which has artificially distorted global prices for alumina, threatening        U.S. supply chain security. 
       
       “This is a tactic we see repeated against American manufacturers by        their Chinese competitors, and if allowed to be successful, it will        irreparably disrupt the security of supply chains that keep American        industry running,” said David Cresson, President and CEO of the        Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) and the Louisiana Chemical        Industry Alliance (LCIA).  
       
       “President Trump’s America First agenda isn’t just a slogan — it’s a        mission to restore American strength, security, and self-reliance,”        said Governor Jeff Landry. “Keeping vital industries like steel and        aluminum right here on American soil isn’t optional — it’s essential to        our national survival. Louisiana is proud to be a powerhouse in oil and        gas, and we’re doubling down to ensure we lead the way in producing        high-quality alumina — a cornerstone of American manufacturing and        defense. We’re not handing our future to foreign adversaries.”
       
       The company has come under fire from out-of-state-funded activist        groups who continue to spread distorted information about regulatory        compliance and promote narratives that ignore the company’s ongoing environmental        progress, despite nearly 70 years of Atalco’s economic contributions to        Louisiana, supporting more than 550 high-paying jobs in the region, 70%        of which are United Steelworkers and 50% minority representation. These        attacks not only misrepresent the facts but also jeopardize the        livelihoods of Louisiana families and the economic strength of our        state.
       
       “Atalco in Gramercy supports more than 550 high-wage, career changing        jobs, with a highly diverse community workforce,” said Ray Gregson, CEO        of the River Region Chamber of Commerce. “These are our        neighbors—raising families here, supporting small businesses,        contributing to our schools, and helping fund local infrastructure        through millions in local and state tax revenue. The work they do isn’t        just important—it’s essential to the nation’s defense systems,        aerospace, and the supply chain. The impact of Atalco in the River        Parishes is real, direct, and irreplaceable.”
       
       In part through a partnership with Louisiana Economic Development        (LED), the facility has recently invested over $30 million in        world-class bauxite residue filter press technology. These presses        convert the residue into a dense, clay-like material, reducing the        environmental footprint of each ton of alumina produced by more than        35%. The initial phases of this new state-of-the-art process have been        successfully installed and proven, and once completed and commissioned,        will eliminate the industry-standard wet storage at the Gramercy        refinery, as the stabilized material will be safely stored in        dry-storage areas.
       
       “We’re proud to partner with Atalco as they integrate this        groundbreaking technology—one of the first of its kind globally—into        their operations in Gramercy,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois.        “This project is a powerful example of Louisiana industries driving        innovation while enhancing environmental performance in the        manufacturing process. Atalco has also been cooperative and responsive        in aligning with LDEQ requirements, underscoring their commitment to        environmental stewardship. Their forward-thinking approach sets a new        global standard in sustainable bauxite residue management and reaffirms        that the future of industrial innovation runs through Louisiana.”
       
       While the company continues to adopt available technologies designed to        reduce its environmental footprint, it is also collaborating with        regulators to address concerns and strengthen operational compliance.         In addition to the bauxite residue filter presses, the company        has invested over $10M in new dust collection systems, with a second        phase of dust collection investment currently underway. Atalco is        actively working with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality        to meet environmental expectations and improve performance where        needed. They demonstrated a willingness to invest in new technologies        and take meaningful steps to address compliance concerns.
       
       Alumina is the feedstock for many critical products for our country,        including high-purity aluminum, which is essential for military,        aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. Atalco has the capacity to        produce 1.2 million metric tons annually, much of which could be        allocated to ensure the security of critical feedstocks vital to our        national defense.
       
       “Keeping alumina production available and thriving in the U.S. is more        than just a local issue, it’s a matter of national security,” added        Cresson.  “Atalco is the last standing American producer of this        crucial resource, facing over 40 Chinese facilities looking to get a        lock on the global market and critical supply chains, much like they        have with rare earth elements. We cannot afford to become dependent on        a foreign nation for a resource so vital to our national defense. That        makes these attacks from within even more damaging. Activist-driven        efforts threaten to dismantle this vital producer of a critical        feedstock without taking into consideration the ripple effect it will        have on our national security and industrial supply chains. We must        ensure the strength of American manufacturing stays rooted in places        like Louisiana, where generations of skilled workers have built the        foundation for our nation's industrial and economic security.”
       
       Louisiana is proud to be home to the nation’s last alumina producer.        Continued collaboration between Louisiana officials and industry        leaders like Atalco will be key to protecting these jobs, supporting        environmentally conscious innovation, and maintaining a secure domestic        supply chain. In taking the right steps, Atalco and Louisiana can        continue to play a leading role in strengthening and shoring up        American manufacturing where it matters most.

 
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       About the Louisiana Chemical Association
        
       The Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA) was formed in 1959 to promote        a positive business climate for chemical manufacturing that ensures        long-term economic growth for its 65 member companies        that operate more than 100 sites throughout Louisiana.
       
       LCA, Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance and related organizations        work to protect and expand Louisiana’s petrochemical manufacturing        base. It is critical for the industry to have a unified voice in state        governmental activities because legislative and regulatory actions can        affect capital investment and job retention and growth.
       
       LCA is governed by a Board of Directors that consists of 17 member        company representatives, primarily plant managers and divisional vice        presidents. LCA has an experienced staff with expertise in the chemical        industry, environmental, health, safety, security, governmental        affairs, communications and association management.
        

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