Whyalla Integrated Steelworks lands key rail contract

Australia > 1st March, 2022

Whyalla’s iconic steelworks has been awarded a key contract to supply rail products for the Inland Rail project.

Under the contract, LIBERTY Primary Steel will continue its contribution to the project by supplying 147,000 tonnes of steel over the next three to five years. The Whyalla Integrated Steelworks will produce the remainder of rail needed for the nationally significant Inland Rail project and other rail projects delivered by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

The contract will see more than 2,400km of rail manufactured in Whyalla for the Inland Rail track from Melbourne to Brisbane and other ARTC projects including the Southern Highlands crossover project, Narrabri to Turrawan rerailing project as well as ARTC maintenance and rerailing projects in New South Wales and South Australia.

Jason Schell, Executive Managing Director Primary Steel, said the contract would support the 1,500-strong workforce at the iconic Whyalla Integrated Steelworks. “LIBERTY Primary Steel is proud to contribute high-quality, Australian-made product to projects of the scale and importance of Inland Rail,” he said. “It’s exciting to see this nation-building project being built with Australian steel and benefitting regional communities across Australia, including Whyalla.

“We already have a strong association with ARTC through the Tangent Rail Development – a collaborative initiative culminating in a modified rail profile delivering a lower cost solution for ARTC and continuity of supply of quality steel rail to major infrastructure projects from the Whyalla Steelworks.”

Mark Campbell, ARTC CEO and Managing Director, said ARTC was continuing to support Australian manufacturing at a time when the nation continued to fight back against the economic impacts from COVID-19.

“This contract reinforces the investment in rail, including Inland Rail, which is supporting jobs and building efficient and strengthened supply chains for generations to come,” he said.

“Towns like Whyalla produce world-class products and we will be supplied with 147,000 tonnes of top-quality Australian made steel for the remainder of Australia’s transformational infrastructure project Inland Rail and to support ARTC’s operational requirements.”

Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Chairman GFG Alliance, said the contract was a great success for the Whyalla’s Integrated Steelworks.

“This announcement is testament to the hard work of our people and demonstrates our business is in a strong position,” he said. “Steel is essential in the modern world and essential in developing a thriving industrial economy. We are pleased to be associated with key Australian infrastructure projects like Inland Rail.”

LIBERTY Primary Steel has been supplying rail products to the Inland Rail project since 2017.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Rod Mapstone, External Communications and Media
M: +61 438 294 377
E: rod.mapstone@gfgalliance.com

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