Australia, 5 August, 2025 - International producer of critical and strategic metals Nyrstar, today announced it had reached agreement with the Australian, South Australian and Tasmanian Governments for $135 million transitionary support for its domestic multi-metals manufacturing business and sites at Port Pirie and Hobart.
The combined support provided by the Governments – together with ongoing investments backed by its shareholder Trafigura – will enable Nyrstar Australia to maintain its ongoing operations while progressing engineering planning to allow assessment of a significant rebuild of its Australian smelters and at the same time, fast track feasibility studies into critical metals production.
Nyrstar’s critical metals studies will explore what is needed to modify its operations to produce germanium and indium in Hobart and antimony and bismuth in Port Pirie. The company’s focus will initially be directed towards accelerating an Antimony Pilot Plant in Port Pirie.
Antimony is an alloy hardener for other metals in ammunition and batteries and is critical to the manufacture of semi-conductors found in electronics and defence applications and is used in flame retardant materials.
The support provided to Nyrstar will also be targeted towards asset integrity projects including critical scheduled maintenance activities at Port Pirie and Major Furnace and Wharf Investments at Hobart.
As part of the agreement, Nyrstar has committed to continue investment in its existing operations and workforce in Australia while it progresses its consideration of a redevelopment. Nyrstar will also work with respective Australian Governments to examine the necessary policies and pathways to safeguard and capitalise on these strategic multi-metals processing assets.
Nyrstar Global Chief Executive Officer Guido Janssen said the Nyrstar group was grateful for the transitionary support provided by the Australian, South Australian and Tasmanian State Governments to Nyrstar’s Australian operations.
“In the face of extremely challenging global market conditions, this support demonstrates the strategic importance of the Australian operations for sovereign capability and delivering the products needed globally for modern economies,” Mr Janssen said.
“This announcement is a credit to the teamwork and excellence of our teams at Port Pirie and Hobart and is an important step forward as part of our global focus on increasing critical and strategic metals production.”
Nyrstar Australia Chief Executive Matt Howell said that Nyrstar’s operations in Australia have the potential to build on their 100 years of continuous operation, becoming a new hub for the supply of critical metals not only to Australia but globally.
“Port Pirie and Hobart represent a key part of Australia’s metals processing infrastructure. We have an opportunity to build upon this to create a new source of economic growth, producing metals for defence industries, renewable energy and high technology manufacturing,” Mr Howell said.
“Through this partnership, Australia is demonstrating that it is at the forefront of taking meaningful steps to retain nationally strategic smelters and partner with industry to provide urgent short-term support, as well as work on solutions for their long-term viability.”
As Australia’s only lead refiner and the largest zinc refiner in the country Nyrstar contributes around A$1.7bn to Australia’s economy each year and employs 1,400 Australians directly, while supporting more than 6,600 indirect jobs.
During this first stage of support major investments at both sites will be completed requiring an additional 350 contractors and 90 suppliers at Port Pirie and around 200 contractors and suppliers for works at Hobart.
About us:
About Nyrstar
Nyrstar is an international producer of critical minerals and metals essential for a low carbon future with mining, smelting and other operations located in Europe, the United States and Australia. Nyrstar’s operating business is wholly owned by Trafigura, one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading and supply chain logistics companies.
Nyrstar Australia is a national multi-metals processing and refining business, operating in Port Pirie and Hobart for over 100 years to produce lead, silver, zinc, and many other materials that are essential for the manufacture of products used by everyone, every day.
Nyrstar Australia employs over 1,400 people across processing plants in Port Pirie and Hobart that operate as two interlinked sites and play a critical role in increasing the value of the metals and minerals obtained from resources sourced from across Australia and around the world.
Contact details:
Chandran Vigneswaran - 0467 775 055
Ann Kile (Hobart) - 0409 622 316
Luke Sale (Port Pirie) - 0422 786 863
[email protected]