Global Alumina Announces Commencement of Substantial Issuer Bid

TORONTO, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Alumina Corporation (TSX:
GLA.U) (the "Company" or "Global Alumina"), a corporation participating in a
joint venture to develop an alumina refinery, mine and associated
infrastructure in the bauxite-rich region of the Republic of Guinea (the
"Project"), announced today that it has commenced its substantial issuer bid
("the Offer") by way of a "Dutch auction". The Company has offered to
repurchase for cancellation up to US$8 million of its outstanding common
shares ("Common Shares") from shareholders for a price ranging from US$0.40 to
US$0.65. The formal offer to purchase, issuer bid circular and related
documents ("Offer Documents") were mailed to shareholders on July 10, 2009 and
have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed on the Internet at Global
Alumina's reference page at www.sedar.com. The Offer expires at 5:00 pm
(Toronto time) on August 17, 2009, unless withdrawn or extended by the
Company. The closing price per Common Share on the TSX on June 12, 2009, the
day prior to the announcement of the Offer, was $0.345. On July 9, 2009 the
closing price per Common Share on the TSX was $0.340.

Global Alumina has retained Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc. to act as the
information agent and Computershare Investor Services Inc. to act as the
depositary for the Offer.

Neither Global Alumina nor its Board of Directors makes any recommendation to
shareholders as to whether to tender their Common Shares to the Offer.
Shareholders are strongly encouraged to review the Offer Documents carefully
and to consult with their financial and tax advisors prior to making any
decision with respect to the Offer.

Global Alumina previously announced its intention to proceed with the Offer in
a press release dated June 15, 2009.

About Global Alumina

Global Alumina and its joint venture partners are developing a 3.6 million
metric tons per annum nominal capacity alumina refinery located in the
bauxite-rich region of the Republic of Guinea. The joint venture partners in
the Project are Global Alumina International, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company, BHP Billiton, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited and Mubadala
Development Company PJSC. The Project is one of the most advanced new projects
in Guinea with the refinery already in feasibility stage and critical path
infrastructure and site work already underway. Global Alumina is positioned to
be one of the only companies focused solely on alumina production and sales.
The Company offers a first mover advantage over other projects in the region
and an opportunity for socially responsible investing in a country that holds
over one-third of the world's bauxite resources. Global Alumina is
headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick with operations in Boke, Guinea and
has administrative offices in New York, London, Montreal and Conakry, Guinea.
For further information visit the company's website at www.globalalumina.com.

SOURCE Global Alumina Corporation

Michael Cella, Global Alumina, +1-212-351-0010, cella@globalalumina.com; or
Barbara Cano, Breakstone Group, +1-646-452-2334, bcano@breakstone-group.com