Alcoa is celebrating a big mining milestone, having pulled its billionth tonne of bauxite from the ground in Western Australia.

The company passed the milestone after mining across the state for over 53 years, and has used the occasion to reflect on it time in Australian soil.

President Alcoa Mining Garret Dixon spokes at a commemorative celebration in Mandurah this week.

“We’re very proud of this achievement and also our decades-long, internationally recognised land rehabilitation program – one of the most critical parts of the mining process which sees jarrah forest ecosystems restored,” Dixon said.

“In Australia, our bauxite is used to produce alumina to supply approximately eight per cent of world alumina demand and we make alumina as low as one third of the greenhouse footprint per tonne of product of some of our Asian competitors.”

Alcoa says it has made a big contribution to both the WA and Australian economies, injecting billions of dollars each year, employing about 4,000 people and spending more than $2.2 billion per annum in local procurement and payroll alone.

Nigel Hallett MLC was at the celebration representing Premier Colin Barnett, and was joined by Alcoa’s longest-serving worker, Huntly mine’s Jim Blacklock.

“Since joining the company in December 1971, I’ve seen huge change,” Mr Blacklock said.

“The automation of processes and the volume of production are what impress me the most. But by far it is the people who have given me the greatest enjoyment; they’re brilliant.”

The company named a road at one of its site after Mr Blacklock, in recognition of his commitment and service to the company.