Port Pirie upgrade to support critical metals production

Nyrstar’s Port Pirie multi-metals facility will this week commence a 50-day upgrade program to improve efficiency and maintain the long-term competitiveness of one of Australia’s most significant metals processing assets.

The program — backed by the Australian and South Australian Governments — will see 350 subcontractors engaged from 90 suppliers, generating substantial local economic activity and strengthening the supply chain for strategic and critical metals production.

The major works include a reline of the Top Submerged Lance (TSL) furnace, a rebuild of the Copper Dross Furnace and the construction of an improved enclosure for the Blast Furnace. Together with upgrades to the Acid Plant, fume handling systems, wastewater treatment and refinery flues, these projects represent a coordinated investment in the future of the Port Pirie site.

The government says the work safeguards Port Pirie’s critical role in producing and supplying its existing suite of strategic metals while providing greater flexibility to process critical metals including antimony and bismuth. The TSL reline, Copper Dross Furnace rebuild, and off-gas system repairs will restore full smelting capacity for lead and associated strategic metals such as copper, silver and gold, while supporting readiness for new critical mineral feedstocks.

There will also be improvements in fume handling, acid plant performance and wastewater treatment to enhance emissions control and ensure compliance with environmental standards.

The works form part of broader support arrangements with the Australian, South Australian and Tasmanian Governments in August, amounting to $135 million to secure ongoing operations while Nyrstar advances engineering planning for a significant rebuild of its Australian smelters and fast-tracks feasibility studies into new critical metals production.

“The improvement program taking place at Nyrstar’s Port Pirie smelter over the next 50 days shows that the partnership between the Albanese government, the South Australian and Tasmanian Governments and Nyrstar itself is working as intended,” said Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres. “This new investment makes the smelter more capable, more efficient and is part of the effort by Nyrstar, the governments, workers and maintenance teams to secure the plant’s future.”

“Just as we have with Whyalla, we are working in close partnership with the Commonwealth Government to transform the Port Pirie smelter and secure its future for the long term,” said SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. “These significant works are an important first step, as we progress initial production of antimony — a critical mineral in demand in energy, defence and high-tech manufacturing.”

“This $80 million investment is about improving the efficiency and competitiveness of our Port Pirie operations while underpinning our critical metals production that Australia, the US and other global partners need,” said Nyrstar Australia Chief Executive Matt Howell.

Image credit: iStock.com/S_Sard