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The Advertiser
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Smelter rescue bolsters nation's critical metals future
Taxpayer rescue of two smelters avoids a "national catastrophe" but Australia must now develop a strategy to retain sovereign capability in manufacturing metals, a union urges. Smelters in Hobart and South Australia's Port Pirie will pivot to producing critical minerals in an ambitious modernisation supported by the bailout to protect jobs. The federal, SA and Tasmanian governments on Tuesday announced contributions to the $135 million package for smelters operated by international producer Nyrstar. As a result, entire communities "staring down the barrel of disaster" had been pulled from the brink, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Farrow said. "To lose Nyrstar would have constituted a national catastrophe," he said. China was spending more on propping up its manufacturing sector than it spends on defence, he warned. "Either we let them undercut our operations into oblivion, or we step up with a strategic national approach," he said. "We need to develop a better approach than playing whack-a-mole every time there's a crisis (and) develop a long-term, national strategy to retain our smelters." Combined with investment by Nyrstar, the package allows the company to maintain operations while planning to potentially rebuild and modernise both its lead smelter in Port Pirie and zinc smelter in Hobart. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was an opportunity to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its long-term future. "This town, this facility, has a potentially very bright and prosperous future indeed, but we know it's going to be a journey to get there, which is why partnership is mission-critical," he said. "We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China, but we should be up-front and honest about them." The funding will also help fast-track feasibility studies into critical metals production. Nyrstar will explore the potential production of essential critical minerals including antimony and bismuth at Port Pirie and germanium and indium at Hobart. An immediate focus of the package is an antimony pilot plant in Port Pirie, which would make it the only producer of antimony metal in Australia and one of the few producers globally. Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and critical to manufacturing semiconductors found in electronics and defence applications. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres said that within months, the facility should be upgraded and able to produce 15,000 tons of antimony, which is about 40 per cent of American antimony requirements. As Australia's only lead refiner and largest zinc refiner, Nyrstar contributes about $1.7 billion annually to Australia's economy, supporting 1400 direct jobs and 6647 indirect jobs. The support will also fund "asset integrity projects" including a major maintenance project in Port Pirie requiring 350 contractors and 90 suppliers, and major furnace and wharf investments in Hobart involving 200 contractors and suppliers. The support demonstrates the strategic importance of Australian operations in "extremely challenging global market conditions", Nyrstar global chief executive officer Guido Janssen said. Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the survival of the zinc works, along with other facilities like Liberty Bell Bay, Mt Isa and Whyalla, was "central to Australia's economic future and national security". "When it comes to critical minerals and rare earth minerals in particular, Australia is remarkably well positioned to be a globally important supplier," he said. Mining giant Glencore faces similar challenges at its Mt Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, and warned it will be forced to put both facilities into care and maintenance mode - risking thousands of jobs - if it does not receive taxpayer assistance. Taxpayer rescue of two smelters avoids a "national catastrophe" but Australia must now develop a strategy to retain sovereign capability in manufacturing metals, a union urges. Smelters in Hobart and South Australia's Port Pirie will pivot to producing critical minerals in an ambitious modernisation supported by the bailout to protect jobs. The federal, SA and Tasmanian governments on Tuesday announced contributions to the $135 million package for smelters operated by international producer Nyrstar. As a result, entire communities "staring down the barrel of disaster" had been pulled from the brink, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Farrow said. "To lose Nyrstar would have constituted a national catastrophe," he said. China was spending more on propping up its manufacturing sector than it spends on defence, he warned. "Either we let them undercut our operations into oblivion, or we step up with a strategic national approach," he said. "We need to develop a better approach than playing whack-a-mole every time there's a crisis (and) develop a long-term, national strategy to retain our smelters." Combined with investment by Nyrstar, the package allows the company to maintain operations while planning to potentially rebuild and modernise both its lead smelter in Port Pirie and zinc smelter in Hobart. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was an opportunity to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its long-term future. "This town, this facility, has a potentially very bright and prosperous future indeed, but we know it's going to be a journey to get there, which is why partnership is mission-critical," he said. "We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China, but we should be up-front and honest about them." The funding will also help fast-track feasibility studies into critical metals production. Nyrstar will explore the potential production of essential critical minerals including antimony and bismuth at Port Pirie and germanium and indium at Hobart. An immediate focus of the package is an antimony pilot plant in Port Pirie, which would make it the only producer of antimony metal in Australia and one of the few producers globally. Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and critical to manufacturing semiconductors found in electronics and defence applications. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres said that within months, the facility should be upgraded and able to produce 15,000 tons of antimony, which is about 40 per cent of American antimony requirements. As Australia's only lead refiner and largest zinc refiner, Nyrstar contributes about $1.7 billion annually to Australia's economy, supporting 1400 direct jobs and 6647 indirect jobs. The support will also fund "asset integrity projects" including a major maintenance project in Port Pirie requiring 350 contractors and 90 suppliers, and major furnace and wharf investments in Hobart involving 200 contractors and suppliers. The support demonstrates the strategic importance of Australian operations in "extremely challenging global market conditions", Nyrstar global chief executive officer Guido Janssen said. Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the survival of the zinc works, along with other facilities like Liberty Bell Bay, Mt Isa and Whyalla, was "central to Australia's economic future and national security". "When it comes to critical minerals and rare earth minerals in particular, Australia is remarkably well positioned to be a globally important supplier," he said. Mining giant Glencore faces similar challenges at its Mt Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, and warned it will be forced to put both facilities into care and maintenance mode - risking thousands of jobs - if it does not receive taxpayer assistance. Taxpayer rescue of two smelters avoids a "national catastrophe" but Australia must now develop a strategy to retain sovereign capability in manufacturing metals, a union urges. Smelters in Hobart and South Australia's Port Pirie will pivot to producing critical minerals in an ambitious modernisation supported by the bailout to protect jobs. The federal, SA and Tasmanian governments on Tuesday announced contributions to the $135 million package for smelters operated by international producer Nyrstar. As a result, entire communities "staring down the barrel of disaster" had been pulled from the brink, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Farrow said. "To lose Nyrstar would have constituted a national catastrophe," he said. China was spending more on propping up its manufacturing sector than it spends on defence, he warned. "Either we let them undercut our operations into oblivion, or we step up with a strategic national approach," he said. "We need to develop a better approach than playing whack-a-mole every time there's a crisis (and) develop a long-term, national strategy to retain our smelters." Combined with investment by Nyrstar, the package allows the company to maintain operations while planning to potentially rebuild and modernise both its lead smelter in Port Pirie and zinc smelter in Hobart. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was an opportunity to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its long-term future. "This town, this facility, has a potentially very bright and prosperous future indeed, but we know it's going to be a journey to get there, which is why partnership is mission-critical," he said. "We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China, but we should be up-front and honest about them." The funding will also help fast-track feasibility studies into critical metals production. Nyrstar will explore the potential production of essential critical minerals including antimony and bismuth at Port Pirie and germanium and indium at Hobart. An immediate focus of the package is an antimony pilot plant in Port Pirie, which would make it the only producer of antimony metal in Australia and one of the few producers globally. Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and critical to manufacturing semiconductors found in electronics and defence applications. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres said that within months, the facility should be upgraded and able to produce 15,000 tons of antimony, which is about 40 per cent of American antimony requirements. As Australia's only lead refiner and largest zinc refiner, Nyrstar contributes about $1.7 billion annually to Australia's economy, supporting 1400 direct jobs and 6647 indirect jobs. The support will also fund "asset integrity projects" including a major maintenance project in Port Pirie requiring 350 contractors and 90 suppliers, and major furnace and wharf investments in Hobart involving 200 contractors and suppliers. The support demonstrates the strategic importance of Australian operations in "extremely challenging global market conditions", Nyrstar global chief executive officer Guido Janssen said. Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the survival of the zinc works, along with other facilities like Liberty Bell Bay, Mt Isa and Whyalla, was "central to Australia's economic future and national security". "When it comes to critical minerals and rare earth minerals in particular, Australia is remarkably well positioned to be a globally important supplier," he said. Mining giant Glencore faces similar challenges at its Mt Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, and warned it will be forced to put both facilities into care and maintenance mode - risking thousands of jobs - if it does not receive taxpayer assistance. Taxpayer rescue of two smelters avoids a "national catastrophe" but Australia must now develop a strategy to retain sovereign capability in manufacturing metals, a union urges. Smelters in Hobart and South Australia's Port Pirie will pivot to producing critical minerals in an ambitious modernisation supported by the bailout to protect jobs. The federal, SA and Tasmanian governments on Tuesday announced contributions to the $135 million package for smelters operated by international producer Nyrstar. As a result, entire communities "staring down the barrel of disaster" had been pulled from the brink, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Farrow said. "To lose Nyrstar would have constituted a national catastrophe," he said. China was spending more on propping up its manufacturing sector than it spends on defence, he warned. "Either we let them undercut our operations into oblivion, or we step up with a strategic national approach," he said. "We need to develop a better approach than playing whack-a-mole every time there's a crisis (and) develop a long-term, national strategy to retain our smelters." Combined with investment by Nyrstar, the package allows the company to maintain operations while planning to potentially rebuild and modernise both its lead smelter in Port Pirie and zinc smelter in Hobart. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was an opportunity to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its long-term future. "This town, this facility, has a potentially very bright and prosperous future indeed, but we know it's going to be a journey to get there, which is why partnership is mission-critical," he said. "We know there is a journey in front of us to be able to tackle the challenges we see, particularly coming out of China, but we should be up-front and honest about them." The funding will also help fast-track feasibility studies into critical metals production. Nyrstar will explore the potential production of essential critical minerals including antimony and bismuth at Port Pirie and germanium and indium at Hobart. An immediate focus of the package is an antimony pilot plant in Port Pirie, which would make it the only producer of antimony metal in Australia and one of the few producers globally. Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and critical to manufacturing semiconductors found in electronics and defence applications. Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres said that within months, the facility should be upgraded and able to produce 15,000 tons of antimony, which is about 40 per cent of American antimony requirements. As Australia's only lead refiner and largest zinc refiner, Nyrstar contributes about $1.7 billion annually to Australia's economy, supporting 1400 direct jobs and 6647 indirect jobs. The support will also fund "asset integrity projects" including a major maintenance project in Port Pirie requiring 350 contractors and 90 suppliers, and major furnace and wharf investments in Hobart involving 200 contractors and suppliers. The support demonstrates the strategic importance of Australian operations in "extremely challenging global market conditions", Nyrstar global chief executive officer Guido Janssen said. Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the survival of the zinc works, along with other facilities like Liberty Bell Bay, Mt Isa and Whyalla, was "central to Australia's economic future and national security". "When it comes to critical minerals and rare earth minerals in particular, Australia is remarkably well positioned to be a globally important supplier," he said. Mining giant Glencore faces similar challenges at its Mt Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery, and warned it will be forced to put both facilities into care and maintenance mode - risking thousands of jobs - if it does not receive taxpayer assistance.
AU Financial Review
06-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
AWU calls for smelter strategy amid growing crises
The Australian Workers Union has backed calls for a strategy to manage the billions of dollars being sought to prop up fiscally troubled metal smelters as maverick independent MP Bob Katter pushes for government intervention at Glencore's Mount Isa copper operations. National secretary Paul Farrow said the AWU would welcome a smelting strategy under Labor's Future Made in Australia policy, with equity or long-term loans on the table for business being forced to weather global markets being distorted by China and others.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nation unveils billion-dollar plan to transform failing factory into next-gen material producer: 'The building blocks of our society'
A struggling metals plant in Whyalla, Australia, is making the shift to becoming greener, thanks to a massive rescue package from the Australian government. Tech Xplore reported that the plant will continue producing iron and steel. However, this time around, it will use cleaner, more affordable energy instead of the coal power it did before. The Whyalla plant is set to receive as much as $500 million AUD ($317 million USD) from a government fund to rework its power source. Additional cash will go toward bailing out the failing plant from unpaid bills and saving jobs. Australia produces the most iron ore in the world, according to Reuters. Keeping its steel plants intact is especially important for maintaining the country's leadership in the industry. Without the Whyalla plant, specifically, "we would be beholden to foreign nations for the building blocks of our society," said Paul Farrow, the Australian Workers' Union secretary. But the reliance on coal for steel production makes it one of the most difficult industries to make cleaner. Steelmaking accounts for about 7% of the world's polluting gases. Air pollution is linked to several diseases, including heart disease, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Reduced pollution from the plant's massive makeover will improve local air quality and contribute to a healthier planet overall. Some benefits may happen quickly after the plant gets a green upgrade. After a coal plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shut down, the area saw a 42% drop in emergency health visits for heart-related problems. "The local abundance of solar energy is likely to be a significant advantage for the plant's future," according to the Conversation. One solar farm in the area is set to supply up to 280 megawatts of energy to the plant. "Investment in green iron and steel will secure future demand for Australia's iron ore as the world moves toward lower emissions iron and steel," the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. How would you feel about a nuclear power plant being built near your home? I'd be excited I'd be scared I'd be angry I wouldn't care Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Arab News
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Australians told ‘prepare for worst' as tropical cyclone nears
GOLD COAST, Australia: Violent winds toppled power lines Friday as a tropical cyclone inched toward Australia's eastern coast, swelling rivers, sparking evacuation orders and leaving 80,000 homes without Cyclone Alfred was 125 kilometers east of Brisbane by Friday afternoon, crawling toward the densely populated coastline at 'walking speed,' government forecasts four million people were in the firing line along a 400-kilometer (250-mile) stretch of coastline straddling the state border of Queensland and New South is a region rarely troubled by typhoons — it has been more than 50 years since a tropical cyclone made landfall in that stretch of deaths have been reported, but police said one man was missing after his four-wheel drive vehicle was swept from a bridge into fast-running river water south of the cyclone.'The male driver was able to exit the vehicle and secure himself to a tree branch,' New South Wales police said in a later, 'the man was swept from the tree and seen to go beneath the water where he has not been sighted since.'Heavy rains associated with the cyclone had already prompted flood warnings in the 80,000 homes were left in the dark across the two states as winds uprooted trees and brought down power lines, officials and utility companies said, as repair crews raced to restore Premier David Crisafulli said the storm already 'packed a punch,' warning conditions would get worse as it approached land on Saturday images showed a white yacht blown into the rocks after snapping its moorings at Point Danger on the Gold people made 'a lucky escape' after a large gum tree crashed through the roof of a house in rural Currumbin Valley, the Queensland Ambulance Service response officials said they had issued evacuation orders for some 10,000 people in the flood-prone northern rivers region of New South was particular concern for the town of Lismore, which was engulfed by record 14-meter (45-feet) floodwaters after heavy rains in residents have spent the past three days fortifying their homes with sandbags, tying down loose furniture and stocking up on food and water.'A lot of people are feeling a bit anxious, for sure, because we don't know what's going to happen,' said Paul Farrow from Coolangatta, a coastal suburb better known for its sun-splashed beaches.'Yeah, we could all lose our houses. Who knows,' the 62-year-old told AFP.'The pubs might be shut for a week or two. Who knows.'Farrow said he had stashed a 'couple of peaches,' a 'couple of cartons of beer,' and 'a bag of grapes' to get him through.'So I'll be right,' he Minister Anthony Albanese said the region should 'hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.''When nature does its worst, Australians are at our best. We rally. We lift each other up. We look out for our neighbors,' he told Cyclone Alfred would likely cross the coast on Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology said, although its path has proven increasingly difficult to was forecast to make landfall somewhere north of rains, 'destructive' wind gusts, and 'abnormally high tides' would pummel the coast as it crept nearer, the bureau than 900 schools across Queensland state and neighboring parts of northern New South Wales were closed on Friday, education department officials cyclones are common in the warm tropical waters lapping Australia's northern flank, it is rarer for them to form in cooler waters further would be the first to make landfall in that part of Australia since 1974, the Bureau of Meteorology have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Australians told 'prepare for worst' as tropical cyclone nears
Violent winds toppled power lines Friday as a tropical cyclone inched towards Australia's eastern coast, sparking evacuation orders and leaving more than 50,000 homes without electricity. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was 165 kilometres (100 miles) east of Brisbane city on Friday morning, crawling towards the densely populated coastline at "walking speed", government forecasts said. Some four million people were in the firing line along a 400-kilometre (250-mile) stretch of coastline straddling the border of Queensland state and New South Wales. It is a region rarely troubled by typhoons -- it has been more than 50 years since a tropical cyclone made landfall in that part of Queensland. More than 50,000 homes were without power on Friday morning as damaging winds brought down power lines, officials and utility companies said. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the storm already "packed a punch", warning conditions would get worse as it approached land late on Friday or early Saturday. Emergency response officials said they had issued evacuation orders for some 10,000 people in the flood-prone northern rivers region of New South Wales. There was particular concern for the town of Lismore, which was engulfed by record 14-metre (45-feet) floodwaters after heavy rains in 2022. Many residents have spent the past three days fortifying their homes with sandbags, tying down loose furniture and stocking up on food and water. "A lot of people are feeling a bit anxious, for sure, because we don't know what's going to happen," said Paul Farrow from Coolangatta, a coastal suburb better known for its sun-splashed beaches. "Yeah, we could all lose our houses. Who knows," the 62-year-old told AFP. "The pubs might be shut for a week or two. Who knows." Farrow said he had stashed a "couple of peaches", a "couple of cartons of beer", and "a bag of grapes" to get him through. "So I'll be right," he said. - 'Prepare for the worst' - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the region should "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst". "When nature does its worst, Australians are at our best. We rally. We lift each other up. We look out for our neighbours," he told reporters. Tropical Cyclone Alfred would likely cross the coast "early Saturday morning", the Bureau of Meteorology said, although its path was becoming difficult to predict. It was forecast to make landfall around 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of Brisbane. Drenching rains, "destructive" wind gusts, and "abnormally high tides" would pummel the coast as it crept nearer, the bureau said. More than 900 schools across Queensland state and neighbouring parts of northern New South Wales were closed on Friday, education department officials said. While cyclones are common in the warm tropical waters lapping Australia's northern flank, it is rarer for them to form in cooler waters further south. Alfred would be the first to make landfall in that part of Australia since 1974, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change amplifies the risk of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones. bur-sft/tym
