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CELEBRATIONS: Member for Giles Eddie Hughes, Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey, Sanjeev Gupta, Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne and City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley at the first anniversary of the GFG Alliance ownership of the Whyalla steelworks and associated mines. Pictures: Courtney Hewett Photography.
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer has paid tribute to the local workforce at the Whyalla steelworks and associated mines as they today celebrated one year under new owners GFG Alliance.
Mayor Breuer said the “extraordinary amount of work” undertaken in the past 12 months by the workers and management was not only creating an exciting future for the city’s major industry, it was also helping get the city of Whyalla back on its feet.
“There’s so much going on behind the scenes and a lot more still to come to enable these operations and this city to once again become a powerhouse,” Ms Breuer said.
“We’re already seeing local confidence improving; our great city is in the national media spotlight for all the right reasons; and there’s still more exciting news on the horizon as the transformation begins to take shape.
“It’s fantastic that GFG are celebrating their first anniversary, and I look forward to helping them celebrate plenty more in the years to come.”
GFG Alliance Executive Chairman, Sanjeev Gupta was in town to help commemorated the one‐year anniversary of his Australian operations by celebrating with employees and local dignitaries in Whyalla. He was joined by many workers and dignitaries including Minister for Defence the Hon Christopher Pyne.
Rising from the brink of collapse, he said the business and the city of Whyalla were now well positioned for the Whyalla transformation project which is taking shape.
“It’s great to be here in Whyalla celebrating with the people who are turning these operations around,” Mr Gupta said.
“There has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes over the past twelve months to prepare the business for what will be a once‐in‐a‐generation transformation.
PROUD CREW: GFG Alliance workers and guests at the new flag and company branding.
“As well as lifting the steelworks’ production closer to its design capacity and identifying significant savings for mining, we have also established a world‐class transformation team.
“These local and international experts are immersed in the feasibility phase to determine exactly what this project will look like. This work will position the business and city for sustainable success for generations to come.”
Mr Gupta said the major elements of the project – incorporating a $1 billion investment in the Whyalla operations, and US$1 billion for the 1GW renewable energy program to significantly reduce SA power prices – would steadily come to fruition over the coming years.
“We thank you for your patience, and ask for your continued determination and trust as these significant changes begin to take shape,” he said.
“We have a proven track record in this field – as well as the support of the Whyalla community, and local, state and federal governments – which enables us to succeed.”
During the event, Mr Gupta also unveiled refreshed branding – aimed at better reflecting GFG’s growing portfolio of businesses – and local management highlighted some of the key achievements of the past 12 months, including:
‐ Increasing the steelworks’ production by 50,000 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of nearly 30,000 Holden Commodores – through exporting steel slabs to Liberty Newport in Wales
‐ Commencing mining at the Iron Warrior and Iron Empress pits, as well as recommencing mining at the Iron Duchess
‐ Purchasing the Tahmoor Coking Coal Operations to secure the supply of coal to the steelworks and minimise coal price variations
‐ Acquiring a majority stake in what is now SIMEC ZEN Energy to reduce energy costs through numerous renewable and cogeneration projects
‐ Investing more than $50m in building a new main store and weighbridge; and upgrading ageing equipment
‐ Implementing a new mine plan, aimed at securing the long‐term future of the mining business
‐ Significantly reducing pellet production costs to improve overall plant performance
“Thank you to all of you for coming on this journey with us,” Mr Gupta said.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with all of you, as both our operations and the city of Whyalla transform.”
CHEERING: GFG Alliance workers and visitors in front of the new company branding.