Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is very pleased with GFG Alliance’s (GFG) announcement of its final concept plan to transform the Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia.
“I continue to be very confident the Federal Government is doing what is required to bring about this new investment phase,” he said.
“I met recently with both with Employment Minister Cash and representatives from Liberty OneSteel to ensure all parties were comfortable with each other’s position and as a result had been expecting this positive announcement from GFG.”
Mr Ramsey said, “This is another step toward cementing Whyalla’s role as a major player in the steel market both in Australia and internationally.”
“We will continue to work very closely with GFG and the State Government to work toward projects which will secure the future of the steelworks.”
“The Federal Government’s faith in Whyalla steel was underlined only a couple of weeks ago when the first order of 14,000t of rail was placed for the Inland rail project”, Mr Ramsey said. “It is just the first order of an expected 270,000t.”
“The announcement regarding the ‘Transformation’ is a welcome Christmas present for Whyalla and I am looking forward to 2018 with some excitement.”
The Australian Government has also financed the instalment of new beneficiation equipment at the Whyalla operations through a completed loan of $49.2 million. The Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will also consider potential financing for projects that meet their eligibility requirements.
Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744 Mr Ramsey
December 22 2017
