Source : Perth Now news
Up to 600 jobs are set to be axed at and around South Australia’s Whyalla steelworks, as administrators and the state government walk away from restarting the dormant blast furnace.
The permanent closure is set to be announced on Monday.
Some 600 jobs could be made redundant, but Whyalla’s steel shaping mill will keep operating.
Images supplied to the ABC show Premier Peter Malinauskas at the site on Monday morning.
The Australian Financial Review reports up to 600 direct and indirect jobs are on the line, The Australian reports 500 direct and contractor jobs could go, and News24 reports at least 146 jobs will be axed.
The state government put Whyalla into administration in February 2025, and since then the plant has been run by administrator KordaMentha. The state and federal governments have put more than $1bn in to keep the operation going.
On Sunday, Mr Malinauskas reiterated that the 60-year-old blast furnace was in bad shape.
“The blast furnace’s days have always been numbered, and it’s looking as though that that number is becoming increasingly small, to say the least,” he said.
“The blast furnace is in an exceptionally precarious position and that problem has only been intensifying.
“This is a challenge we always knew was coming and … I think that’s becoming increasingly well known in Whyalla and to those that are working on the project.”
Indian-owned Jindal Steel, and Australian-owned M Resources remain in the running to buy Whyalla. BlueScope Steel holds the right of last offer.
A new owner would be able to import semi-finished steel for processing.
More to come
