The Federal Government, along with the South Australian and Tasmanian Governments, has unveiled a $135 million support package to support Nyrstar’s Port Pirie and Hobart smelters.
Nyrstar, which operates Australia’s only lead refinery and its largest zinc refinery, will receive $57.5 million from the Federal Government, with SA contributing $55 million and Tasmania $22.5 million.
The funding will be matched by the company and its parent Trafigura to maintain current operations, fast-track feasibility studies, and pursue major facility upgrades.
“This support demonstrates the strategic importance of the Australian operations for sovereign capability and delivering products needed globally for modern economies,” Nyrstar Global chief executive officer Guido Janssen told the ABC.
The funding aims to stabilise current operations while enabling the development of a new future for the smelters.
Feasibility studies will explore the production of critical minerals including antimony and bismuth at Port Pirie, and germanium and indium at Hobart – all essential for clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing.
An immediate focus will be the deployment of an antimony pilot plant at Port Pirie. If successful, it would make the site the only producer of antimony metal in Australia and one of the few globally.
“An antimony pilot plant will be deployed in Port Pirie as a priority,” Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres said. “If pilot studies are successful this would position Port Pirie as Australia’s only producer of antimony metal … supporting sovereign capability in defence and advanced manufacturing.”
The investment will also fund major maintenance at Port Pirie, requiring over 350 contractors and 90 suppliers, and furnace and wharf upgrades in Hobart involving around 200 contractors.
“We have an opportunity to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its future for the long term,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said. “Working with Nyrstar and the Commonwealth, we can modernise the Port Pirie smelter and take advantage world’s desire for critical minerals.”
Nyrstar contributes $1.7 billion to the Australian economy annually, directly employing 1400 Australians and supporting over 6600 indirect jobs.
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