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Sanjeev Gupta says the opportunities in Whyalla are “immense” and the city could support 70,000 to 80,000 people in the future as he sets about developing the city’s main industry.
The new owner of Whyalla’s steelworks and mining interests (formerly owned by Arrium) through his Gupta Family Group Alliance, Mr Gupta was speaking on Sky News about his plans for the Whyalla operation and his other rapidly expanding Australian interests.
The British billionaire, dubbed the “Man of Steel” by mainstream media, spoke at length to Sky News business presenter Ticky Fullerton, pictured, as he declared his aim was to grow his newly-acquired steelworks “multifold” and Whyalla had the infrastructure to support such a massive population growth.
“The opportunity in Whyalla is immense but it does require a lot of investment in the business,” Mr Gupta said about the Whyalla operation.
“That business has not been invested in for decades so it requires a huge amount of investment and we’re very grateful of the support we are getting from the government and everyone implementing.
“With that investment program there is a long-term future for the business, not just to sustain that business but to actually grow it multifold.
“If you combine that with the infrastructure, the port we have, the industrial landscape we have, the city can occupy 70,000 to 80,000 people.”
Mr Gupta spoke about his plans for a power-generating future for Whyalla that was vital to drive this growth. After recently purchasing a controlling share of ZEN Energy and declaring plans for a large-scale solar power plant in Whyalla along with hydro possibilities at his mine sites, the GFG Alliance executive chairman said power was the final piece in the puzzle for his Whyalla, and his other Australian, operations.
“It’s not just about adding to the grid, it’s more about building in Whyalla a low power base,” Mr Gupta said.
“We have (in Whyalla) industrial infrastructure, there is a port, land and huge possibilities in terms of what can be built – what is missing is a power source.
“If we can build a cheap power source, we can then complete the puzzle and build anything we like in regards to a power-intensive industry.”
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer said the city was capable of supporting 70 to 80,000 people in the future with the sort of investment and development GFG Alliance was proposing for its steelworks and mining operations.
“It is exciting to hear of Mr Gupta’s plans, and what an incredible future Whyalla will have if this all falls into place,” Mayor Breuer said.
“Back in the early 60s when the shipyard was being built, projections were made then we could become a city of 50,000.
“This changed of course, but we did reach 33,000 in the 70s. Who knows what the future will bring, but I think with GFG Alliance our prospects have never looked better, and I will support them totally and our community will embrace it with open arms.”
Fresh from his and his family’s participation in the GFG Alliance Whyalla Christmas Pageant and After Pageant Party, Mr Gupta said on Sky News he was, indeed, settling in to Australian life after moving his family over from England.
“It feels like home already, there is so many cultural similarities between the two countries,” he said.
See the full interview:
