Alcoa will stop producing alumina at its oldest refinery in Western Australia and slash 750 jobs as the mining lobby warned the closure was a “devastating blow” caused by tough workplace laws and slow environmental approvals.

The US company cited rising costs at the ageing facility in the heart of industrial Perth for the decision, which came a day after nickel miner Panoramic cut 300 jobs in the Kimberley, the latest operator hit by the slump in battery metal prices that is expected to force more closures this year.