- Cook Labor Government diversifying Western Australia's nation-leading economy
- Major government infrastructure projects to consider the use of local green steel
- Expression of Interest to call for green steel product ready for off-take
- Decision will create jobs by supporting Western Australian manufacturing businesses
- Key part of Cook Government's Made in WA plan
The Cook Labor Government is diversifying Western Australia's nation-leading economy by making more things here, with a new Expression of Interest for local green steel to be used on major government projects.
Exporting green iron precursors to green steel is a major opportunity for WA to add value to its raw iron ore exports - as recognised in the government's Made in WA plan - with government support currently being provided to projects in Kwinana, the Mid West and the Pilbara.
Procuring green steel for government projects provides an additional opportunity to develop a locally manufactured green steel recycling industry, with feedstock including decommissioned mining and offshore oil and gas plants.
That means green steel could be used in an array of major government works, including railways, roads, transmission lines, as well as future hospital building projects.
As part of new, soon-to-be-introduced local sourcing requirements, the government will take an "if not, why not" approach to procurement that will explicitly preference WA-made green steel.
To support this, the government will also:
- publish a Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) Addendum for steel, which will introduce stronger expectations for local sourcing, recognise the role of recycled and low-emissions steel, and insist on value-for-money assessments;
- increase the supply of local steel to government projects including those in the health, transport, and clean energy sectors;
- release an open-market Expression of Interest for a green-steel product
to supply those projects and programs; and
- issue directions to Western Power, Synergy, and Horizon Power under theGovernment Trading Enterprises Act 2023that will drive local content procurement.
This will give producers confidence to invest, create jobs in steel fabrication, and help WA build a cleaner, stronger industrial base for the future.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Locally made green steel is a key part of my vision to become a renewable energy powerhouse and make more things here.
"This announcement is a signal of intent to this new green steel industry we want you here.
"We want to decarbonise, and we want the jobs it creates to kick off a whole new industry for WA by using the power of government procurement.
"It'll mean that when we build government projects, we're not just creating jobs in construction we're creating them in manufacturing.
"We're creating good jobs, apprenticeships, and opportunities in local workshops and fabrication yards, which is what the Made in WA plan that I took to this year's election is all about."
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"We promised action on green steel, and we are delivering.
"This is a clear signal to proponents and manufacturers that the Cook Labor Government is determined to set up a green steel industry.
"It will create jobs, diversify the economy, and provide the green steel products for projects that will shape Western Australia, from hospitals and transport to housing and energy infrastructure.
"Seizing this opportunity will show that decarbonisation and industrial strength go hand in hand.
"We do not need to choose between clean energy and jobs.
"Our Made in WA plan and our clean energy transition make this all possible."
