Brimstone, a US-based industrial innovations provider, has announced a significant development in its operations involving the production of smelter-grade alumina through its deeply decarbonised cement manufacturing process.

This initiative signifies a key industrial milestone in the US, directly impacting national security, strengthening domestic supply chains and boosting the economy.

The focus on alumina production aims to bolster the US aluminium supply chain, which has been heavily reliant on imports.

The Brimstone plant could become the first new local source of smelter-grade alumina in a generation, joining a market currently dominated by China.

Brimstone co-founder and CEO Cody Finke said: "Brimstone is working to create the industrial processes of the 21st century, leveraging co-production to unlock the economic value of common, domestically sourced rocks.

“This milestone is a huge win for US manufacturing, as we now can secure the entire alumina supply chain right here in the US – fortifying the domestic supply of this critical mineral, reducing reliance on imports and bringing jobs back home.”

Brimstone recently finalised negotiations with the US Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, securing nearly $8.7m from a federal cost share that could reach up to $189m.

This funding will support site selection for its $378m, first-of-a-kind commercial demonstration plant.

The plant will simultaneously produce smelter-grade alumina, along with previously disclosed co-products such as portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM).

The demonstration plant will represent the first implementation of the Brimstone Rock Refinery, which is part of the company's broader ambition to process carbon-free calcium silicate rocks into various competitively priced, significantly decarbonised co-products.

The Brimstone process avoids the need to import bauxite by producing alumina from rocks that are abundant in the US.

By replacing bauxite with carbon-free calcium silicate rocks, Brimstone aims to reduce the dependence of the US alumina industry on imported bauxite.

Brimstone’s patented process utilises co-production to obtain various minerals from a single type of rock, thereby lowering expenses, streamlining logistics and minimising waste.

The company plans to begin pilot operations in 2025 and aims to have its commercial demonstration plant operational by the end of the decade.

Brimstone is also actively engaging with potential customers and testing its deeply decarbonised cement and SCM.