Magnetite is enabling a steel technology transition in South Australia
Liberty Steel announced on 4 March it would phase out its existing blast furnace at Whyalla Steelworks and build a new DRI-EAF. It will initially consume natural gas and hydrogen before shifting completely to green hydrogen. The company has already tested the possibility of producing DR-grade iron ore pellets from existing magnetite ores in South Australia.
Whyalla’s Carbon Neutral by 2030 plan (CN30) is focused on producing 15 million tonnes of high-quality magnetite iron ore, from which 10 million tonnes of green DRI will be produced for the both domestic and export market.
Sanjeev Gupta, the executive chairman of LIBERTY Steel Group, highlighted the prominent position of Whyalla for decarbonisation. “Our magnetite expansion plans, coupled with South Australia’s endless resource for renewable energy and green hydrogen, the potential for Whyalla has no bounds,” he said."
