Club major partner GFG Alliance’s LIBERTY Steel has today announced the phase-out of coal-based steel making at its Whyalla plant, with the global corporation significantly investing in a new electric arc furnace and hydrogen-fuelled Direct Reduction Plant (DRP).
Executive Chariman of GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta made the announcement from the Whyalla Steelworks today, with Port Adelaide Football Club CEO, Matthew Richardson, General Manager of Commercial and Partnerships, Brett Mathers, AFL defender, Ryan Burton and AFLW star, Hannah Ewings all making the trip to the Eyre Peninsula for the announcement in support of an incredible milestone in GFG Alliance’s history.
The installation of the modern 160-tonne low carbon emissions Danieli electric arc furnace will mean that coal-based steelmaking would be phased out of the regional SA plant by 2025 and will reduce CO2 emissions by huge 90%.
A GFG spokesperson said that Danieli’s technology could also help eliminate indirect emissions from its operations.
“Danieli’s patented Q-One technology, the first of its kind, provides capability for a direct feed from renewable power sources which could help to eliminate indirect emissions from Whyalla’s new steelmaking facility”, they said.
GFG Alliance’s LIBERTY Steel have also engaged global equipment suppliers for the installation of a DRP that can process local magnetite ore to produce low carbon iron (DRI).
A GFG spokesperson said that it will eventually fully transition to green hydrogen and will feed LIBERTY’s network of electric furnaces across the globe.
“The DRP will initially use a mix of natural gas and green hydrogen as the reducing agent, before fully transitioning to green hydrogen as it becomes available at scale.
“The low carbon DRI can then be fed into the electric arc furnace in combination with scrap to produce high quality steel grades for Australian infrastructure projects, and to serve the growing global demand for low carbon DRI.
“Low carbon and green DRI made in Whyalla will feed LIBERTY’s network of electric arc furnaces in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the UK helping to decarbonise steel supply chains across the world.”
The announcement to shift to green steel will also result in a significant increase in permanent jobs, as well as the redeployment, training, and development opportunities for existing employees through LIBERTY’s GREENSTEEL academy.
Executive Chairman of GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta said that the announcement marks the beginning of a new era for the corporation.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era placing Whyalla at the heart of a global revolution in the steel industry, moving it from being the most polluting of all industries to among the cleanest and greenest,” he said.
“Through the steps we’re taking to install state of the art low carbon iron and steelmaking technologies here in Whyalla we will not only support Australia’s climate ambitions, but we will help to decarbonise steel supply chains globally”.
