Worsley workers make fresh start

Worsley Alumina's 2000 workers have been briefed on the vision for the company under new owner South32.

The Perth-based multi-national company, formed in a breakaway from global mining giant BHP Billiton, began operating the Worsley facility on Monday.

A spokeswoman for Worsley Alumina said it was "business as usual" for workers, who spent much of the first week receiving briefings from the new owners.

She said there were "no plans for any major changes to operations".

Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said while it was positive the company was headquartered in Perth, he wanted to see management jobs based closer to Worsley.

"We want every job we can based in the South West," he said.

He believed Worsley's future was "very strong" because some of its debt under BHP had been cleared.

"It gives them a clean start and a chance to run it their way," he said.

Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union WA secretary Gary Wood said the company should focus on stability after redundancies in the lead-up to the creation of South32.

"Hopefully, now they can establish a workforce that is tailor-made for that operation," he said.

He believed Worsley would not have stringent structures and policies that existed under BHP.

Michael Rix, who joined the company in 2007 as a production manager and became general manager in 2013, has been appointed the Worsley asset president.

"We have world-class people, assets and bauxite resources, which will immediately contribute to the success of South32," Mr Rix said in a statement.

"Through safe and efficient production, we will deliver more value to our people, our stakeholders and communities."

Worsley Alumina will continue mining bauxite and export alumina, with South32 promoting the facility as one of the "largest and low-cost alumina refineries in the world".

Its major customers include South32 aluminium smelters based in southern Africa.

The new company has spent months preparing for the transition after BHP shareholders approved the transfer of some assets to South32.