SMELTING FURNACES – TASMANIA

Federal support looms for smelter to save jobs

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 21-Apr-26

A number of potential buyers have been conducting due diligence on the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter in Tasmania, which was placed in administration in March. However, a deal between administator EY and unions to keep paying the smelter’s workers is set to expire this week, and about 175 jobs will be lost unless the workers agree to take leave without pay. The federal government is expected to intervene with a support package to fund the smelter’s $1.6m fortnightly payroll until prospective buyers have completed due diligence. Industry Minister Tim Ayres has described Australia’s only manganese smelter as "efficient" and "capable".

CORPORATES
ERNST AND YOUNG

Rio: D-day looms for Tassie smelter

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 29-Apr-25

The future of Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter in Tasmania is under renewed scrutiny, with the plant’s electricity supply deal set to expire at the end of 2025. Rio Tinto has warned that the Bell Bay smelter could potentially be closed if the company fails to negotiate a new supply deal with the state-owned Hydro Tasmania; the smelter directly employs about 500 people. The future of Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter in NSW is also uncertain, with its power supply deal scheduled to expire in 2028.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, HYDRO TASMANIA

Clock ticking on South32 manganese smelter jobs

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 18-Oct-19

Diversified miner South32 has reported that production at its Illawarra metallurgical coal mines increased by 30 per cent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September, while manganese ore production rose by 10 per cent. South32 has also advised that it is continuing to review the TEMCO manganese alloy smelter in Tasmania, and it will further update the market in the March 2020 quarter. Closure of the smelter would result in the loss of about 250 jobs; other options include selling or mothballing the facility.

CORPORATES
SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, TASMANIAN ELECTRO METALLURGICAL COMPANY PTY LTD