give a simple explanation of the electrolytic reduction of alumina

Extraction of Aluminium - Electrolysis Cell.

                
The steel container is coated with carbon (graphite) and this is used as the negative electrode (cathode).

Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) is an ionic compound.
When it is melted the Al³⁺ and O^2- ions are free to move and conduct electricity.
Electrolysis of the alumina/cryolite solution gives aluminium at the cathode and oxygen at the anode.

4Al³⁺  +  12e^-    →   4Al   (aluminium metal at the (-)cathode) reduction.
6O^2-  -  12e^-    →   3O₂   (oxygen gas at the (+)anode) oxidation.

Aluminium is more dense than the alumina/cryolite solution and so it falls to the bottom of the cell where it can be tapped off as pure liquid metal.

The overall reaction is

aluminium oxide   →    aluminium + oxygen.
2Al₂O_3(l)         →        4Al_(l)   +     3O_2(g)

Oxygen is given off at the positive carbon anode.
Carbon dioxide is also given off at the carbon anode because hot oxygen reacts with the carbon anode to form carbon dioxide gas.
carbon + oxygen  →carbon dioxide.
C_(s)  +    O_2(g)   →          CO_2(g)

The carbon anodes slowly disappear because each molecule of carbon dioxide which is given off takes a little piece of carbon away with it.
The carbon anodes need to be replaced when they become too small.