ZINC INDUSTRY AND TRADE – AUSTRALIA

Axe hanging over 1300 smelter jobs

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 15 & 21 : 1-May-26

The $135m joint federal and state assistance package for Nyrstar Australia’s zinc smelter in Hobart and its lead smelter in Port Pirie were announced in August 2025, but expired yesterday. Negotiations with the federal, South Australian and Tasmanian governments to extend the rescue package have stalled, and Nyrstar has advised that it will now consider all options for the smelters. This is likely to include closing the plants, which employ about 1,300 people. The Port Pirie smelter produced antimony for the first time earlier this year; Nystar plans to produce another critical mineral, germanium, at the Hobart plant.

CORPORATES
NYRSTAR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

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

Smelters face risk of closure, Nyrstar warns

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 2-Jul-25

Nyrstar Australia’s CEO Matt Howell says the company’s smelters in South Australia and Tasmania are expected to post losses totalling "several hundred millon" dollars over the next two years. He says a joint state and federal government rescue package is vital to the future of the smelters, and a deal with the governments is expected shortly. Significant capital investment is required for both the Port Pirie and Hobart smelters, while Nyrstar is also looking at the viability of upgrading the plants to process critical minerals. Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute contends that government assistance should only be provided if it is deemed to be in the national interest.

CORPORATES
NYRSTAR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, GRATTAN INSTITUTE