Nyrstar's Port Pirie multi-metals facility will this week commence a scheduled $80 million investment program to improve efficiency and maintain the long-term competitiveness of one of Australia's most significant metals processing assets.
The 50-day 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 re-line 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.
These works deliver tangible benefits across three areas:
- Strategic role for Australia: This 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, needed for global industries such as renewable energy, electronics and defence, and strengthening Australia's role in secure international supply chains.
- Operational performance & reliability: 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.
- Environmental compliance: Improvements in fume handling, acid plant performance and wastewater treatment will enhance emissions control and ensure compliance with strict environmental standards, reinforcing the facility's licence to operate and alignment with international ESG expectations.
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.
Concurrently Nyrstar is progressing work to establish an Antimony Pilot Plant at Port Pirie with Antimony metal on track to be produced in the first half of 2026. Nyrstar is also exploring the potential to produce bismuth and tellurium at the facility and germanium and indium at the Hobart Zinc Works.
Nyrstar contributes around $1.7 billion to Australia's economy each year and directly employs 1,400 Australians, supporting a further 6,600 indirect jobs.
Quotes attributable to Minister Tim Ayres:
"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.
"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.
"This is good for workers, local firms, the Port Pirie community and Australia's partners across global supply chains."
Quotes attributable to Premier Peter Malinauskas:
"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.
"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."
Quotes attributable to SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis:
"The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments have partnered to secure Port Pirie's future with a significant investment in Nyrstar's ongoing operations.
"The project will deliver jobs, boost local suppliers and strengthen South Australia's position as a trusted producer of the metals needed for emerging technologies and clean energy industries."
Quotes attributable to SA Member for Stuart Geoff Brock:
"This is welcome news for the people of Port Pirie, with the investment to support hundreds of jobs, putting more money into the local community.
"Nyrstar is at the centre of the region's economic success and this work will ensure a stronger future for one of the region's most important employers."
Quotes attributable to Nyrstar Australia Chief Executive Matt Howell:
"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.
"Backed by the support of the South Australian and Federal Governments, we are creating new opportunities at Port Pirie for economic growth, supply chain resilience and sovereign capability in the production of strategic metals vital for technology, energy transition and defence.'
