Australia’s Queensland fast-tracks green steel projects

: Metals
26/09/24

Australia's Queensland state government is streamlining approvals for three green steel projects to bolster domestic steel manufacturing and reduce the state's reliance on imported steel, the government said on 23 September.

The centre-right Liberal National party has designated the three developments as prescribed projects, allowing the state's planning minister to expedite the approvals processes. The fast-tracked projects include two mills that will utilise electric arc furnace (EAF) technologies to produce steel using recycled scrap material as a feedstock, and a recycled metal processing facility.

Australian steelmaker Alter Steel plans to start construction of its 500,000 t/yr Pinkenba recycling and manufacturing facility near Brisbane city in 2027, with first production expected in 2028 or later. Fellow steelmaker Future Forgeworks aims to begin construction of its 350,000 t/yr Swanbank steel mill in southeast Queensland in October-December, targeting completion in 2028. Scrap metal recycler Sims Metal's A$215mn ($153mn) Pinkenba Redevelopment Project, a recycled metal processing facility, was also granted prescribed project status.

Australia currently has two major steelworks including BlueScope's 2.1mn t/yr Port Kembla facility in New South Wales, and the 1.2mn t/yr Whyalla steelworks, which shuttered its blast furnace on 14 September. The government has pledged over A$2.88bn to support Whyalla's transition to a low-emissions steelmaking facility.

By Emma Partis

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