Australia proposes revenue top-up scheme to keep Alcoa Portland smelter open Reuters 13/12/2020 MELBOURNE/BENGALURU (Reuters) - In a push to keep Alcoa Corp's Portland aluminium smelter open, Australia's government has offered to ensure the smelter earns at least A$76.8 million ($57.9 million) through June 2025 for reducing its power usage and helping to prevent blackouts. The offer comes as Alcoa, federal and state governments and power firms discuss the future of the smelter, which has stayed open since 2017 due to government subsidies and a cheap power contract expiring next year. Alcoa has long said the smelter needs cheaper, more reliable power to stay open beyond 2021.