06/12/2025
State and Industry Leaders Work to Protect Louisiana and U.S. Alumina Dominance
Media Contact:
Hisa Turner
(225) 376-7656
hisa@lca.org
State and Industry Leaders Work to Protect Louisiana and U.S. Alumina Dominance
BATON ROUGE, LA – June 12, 2025 -
Atalco’s Gramercy facility in St. James Parish is the last remaining refinery 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 refinery 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 refinery. 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.
###
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.