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5d ago

Liberty Bell Bay Smelter Scales Back Operations, Leaving Workforce in Limbo

Tasmania’s only manganese alloy smelter enters care and maintenance phase, with governments urging GFG Alliance to ensure transparency and support for affected workers.

News Express George Town owner Jagdish Kumar is concerned the partial shutdown of Liberty Bell Bay will cut business at his store. Picture by Phil Biggs
Aerial view of a smelter facility near a waterway.
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Overview

  • Liberty Bell Bay, Australia’s sole commercial ferroalloy smelter, has transitioned to limited operations due to ore supply disruptions, global price volatility, and US tariffs.
  • Approximately 250 employees have been impacted, though the company has committed to no forced redundancies during this phase.
  • The smelter lost its primary ore supplier after Tropical Cyclone Megan damaged South32’s GEMCO infrastructure in March 2024, exacerbating operational challenges.
  • Tasmanian and federal governments are mobilizing support for workers and calling on GFG Alliance, the smelter’s owner, to provide greater transparency and a clear recovery plan.
  • The facility, which accounts for 7% of Tasmania’s energy consumption, is engaging about 40 full-time staff for care and maintenance while exploring alternative ore sources.