· Liberty OneSteel Whyalla Steelworks has been awarded the contract to supply steel for the first section of Australian Inland Rail infrastructure project
· 14,000 tonnes of steel rail required for the first section – Parkes to Narromine
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has welcomed the announcement that Liberty OneSteel Whyalla Steelworks has secured the contract to supply14,000 tonne of steel rail for the first section of the Australian Inland Rail project track.
“This contract for 60kg per metre steel rail is likely to be worth up to $20m and will add to the strong order book in Whyalla,” Mr Ramsey.
“It will also keep the more than 40 workers at ARTC’s Flash Butt Welding Facility in Port Augusta hard at work for an extended period.
“This excellent news adds to the general air of optimism in Whyalla at the moment showing confidence in the new owner of Liberty OneSteel, Sanjeev Gupta has in the right direction since taking control of the steel plant in August following Arrium’s bankruptcy and I have every confidence the future of steel in Whyalla will be brighter than ever.
“I continue to work with my Coalition ministers to ensure we help facilitate Mr Gupta’s plans to invest over $1 billion in the business in the short to medium term and securing significant contracts such as this one which will see the company become a genuine and sustainable contributor in the world steel market.”
“Whyalla has one predominant industry and its 23,000 people are in one way or another reliant on the iron/steel industry- contracts like this instill more confidence in the plant and the town’s future.”
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the contract was significant with Australian produced steel rail to provide a direct investment to the national economy and secure Australian jobs.
“Liberty OneSteel Whyalla Steelworks will soon start rolling the approximately 14,000 tonnes of steel rail required for the Parkes to Narromine section of the Inland Rail,” Mr Chester said.
“This order is the first of approximately 262,000 tonnes of steel rail needed to build Inland Rail – which is equivalent to five Sydney Harbour Bridges.”
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744