SMELTING FURNACES – AUSTRALIA

ALP subsidy too late to save 1200 smelter jobs

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Original article by Perry Williams, Jack Quail, Lachlan Leeming
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 29-Oct-25

Tomago Aluminium’s CEO Jerome Dozol says the fate of its NSW smelter is likely to be decided long before the federal government’s $2bn green production credit scheme becomes available. The smelter’s current electricity supply deal will expire in 2028, and it faces the prospect of negotiating a new coal-fired supply deal at much higher prices until it has access to sufficient renewable generation. Dozol says this is unlikely to occur until "well into the 2030s". The Energy Users Association of Australia says the shutdown of the Tomago smelter due to high electricity prices is an "unimaginable situation", given the nation’s abundant energy resources. Tomago’s closure would result in the loss of about 1,200 direct jobs.

CORPORATES
TOMAGO ALUMINIUM COMPANY PTY LTD, ENERGY USERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Nyrstar to get $135 million bailout for struggling smelters

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Original article by
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

Nyrstar Australia has welcomed the $135m joint federal and state rescue package for its smelters in Port Pirie and Hobart. The federal government will contribute $57.5m, while the South Australian and Tasmanian governments will provide $55m and $22.5m respectively. Nyrstar will use the taxpayer funding to undertake feasibility studies into the production of critical metals, including antimony and bismuth at the Port Pirie lead smelter and germanium and indium at the Hobart zinc smelter. A pilot plant at Port Pirie will be able to produce up to half a tonne of antimony each day.

CORPORATES
NYRSTAR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Energy key to recovery, says Rio

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 8-May-20

Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques has told the resources group’s Australian annual meeting that its local aluminium assets are "very well run" and high power costs is their main problem. He emphasised the need for a "viable and sustainable solution" to this problem; he added that high energy prices will also be a key issue for the federal government in restarting the domestic economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Jacques also said it now appears to be ‘business as usual’ in China, which is Australia’s key iron ore export market.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, PACIFIC ALUMINIUM PTY LTD

High energy prices force Rio to the table

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 26-Nov-19

The future of Rio Tinto’s Tomago, Boyne and Bell Bay aluminium smelters in Australia remains under scrutiny amid high energy prices and weak demand for aluminium. CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques notes that energy costs accounts for a third of the company’s cost structure, adding that energy costs in Australia are very high by global standards. He says Rio Tinto is holding talks with governments at federal and state level regarding energy costs. The future of Alcoa’s Portland smelter in Victoria is also uncertain, with a state government subsidy due to expire in 2021.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CSR LIMITED – ASX CSR, RUSAL