Taxpayers will fund 44 per cent of a $19.7 million trial designed to reduce the carbon footprint of Australia’s alumina refining industry, in the latest example of government money flowing toward the nation’s resources export industry.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will invest $8.6 million into an emissions reduction trial at Western Australia’s Pinjarra alumina refinery, which is run by American giant Alcoa and its local partner Alumina Ltd.