Whyalla | Developments & News

[rev]

If the federal government cared and wanted to show it was doing more then just paying lip service, they'd ensure the contracts for all the navy ship building used steel from Whyalla.

How much steel is actually needed for a ship/submarine? I wouldn't have thought it would be that much within the context of the steelworks annual output?

Not to say I disagree with the idea though!

From a quick google, Whyalla pumps out 1.2 million tonnes of steel a year, correct me if I'm wrong.
Per frigate wouldn't be any more then a few thousand tonnes according to google.
So based on that wouldn't be much, but I think it's important as these are huge projects worth tens of billions, the naval ship building program was $90 billion and that's back in 2020, add the new announcements probably higher, it would be more beneficial to keep as much of that money in Australia circulating in our economy not sent overseas.

From a quick google as well, the initial Hunter has used steel from Bluescope at Port Kembla. I'd hope that they're using more then just that initial 1500 tonnes mentioned.

[claybro]

Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… the hydrogen bit bothers me. West Australia’s Dr Forrest has grifted hundreds of millions already from taxpayers on his hydrogen boondoggles. All seem to be amounting to nothing. It amazes me that the same people who claim that SMR’s are too expensive/unproven/unworkable, are happy to go all in on hydrogen, which as yet shows no sign of commercial viability in real world operations. The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

[mattblack]

Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… the hydrogen bit bothers me. West Australia’s Dr Forrest has grifted hundreds of millions already from taxpayers on his hydrogen boondoggles. All seem to be amounting to nothing. It amazes me that the same people who claim that SMR’s are too expensive/unproven/unworkable, are happy to go all in on hydrogen, which as yet shows no sign of commercial viability in real world operations. The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

I wouldn't be conflating the GFG collapse with the viability of hydrogen argument. Whatever your views on hydrogen, the government is still all in and there are still green iorn policies embedded in the 2.4B. There obviously needs to be a fair recalibration of timscales due to the shit sandwich they need to chew on.

[claybro]

[quote=claybro post_id=223603 time=<a href="tel:1740025249">1740025249</a> user_id=5463]
Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… the hydrogen bit bothers me. West Australia’s Dr Forrest has grifted hundreds of millions already from taxpayers on his hydrogen boondoggles. All seem to be amounting to nothing. It amazes me that the same people who claim that SMR’s are too expensive/unproven/unworkable, are happy to go all in on hydrogen, which as yet shows no sign of commercial viability in real world operations. The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

I wouldn't be conflating the GFG collapse with the viability of hydrogen argument. Whatever your views on hydrogen, the government is still all in and there are still green iorn policies embedded in the 2.4B. There obviously needs to be a fair recalibration of timscales due to the shit sandwich they need to chew on.
[/quote]

I’m not conflating the GFG collapse with hydrogen. I am conflating hydrogen with the working model moving forward funded by the taxpayer. Don’t get me wrong.. I think the steelworks should absolutely be rescued by the government. But tacking on the hydrogen plan is a political choice not a financial one. My opinion of hydrogen is irrelevant. In no circumstance has it proven remotely viable, and existing schemes are being de funded worldwide.

[rev]

Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

(sorry shortened it because I'm not responding to the hydrogen stuff)

They have customers.
Out of the two steelworks Australia has left, 75% of structural steel made in Australia is made in Whyalla.
Port Kembla I believe is the other steelworks, owned by Bluescope. Only Whyalla makes 'long steel' products.

[claybro]

Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

(sorry shortened it because I'm not responding to the hydrogen stuff)

They have customers.
Out of the two steelworks Australia has left, 75% of structural steel made in Australia is made in Whyalla.
Port Kembla I believe is the other steelworks, owned by Bluescope. Only Whyalla makes 'long steel' products.

Unfortunately in this instance you can’t just scrub out the hydrogen stuff. They have tied funding of the plant and future operation to hydrogen. This not only complicates issues, will cause disruption, and become a money pit for the state. Just keep the damn plant running using current tech to keep up existing orders. Upgrade where necessary, and leave the hydrogen stuff to Twiggy, so long as he can find funding.

[rev]

Whilst government intervention here is warranted, and essential from a strategic view.. as well as the economic viability of Whyalla… The billions being discussed here is an obscene amount of money for a single steel plant. They will need many international customers to make it viable.

(sorry shortened it because I'm not responding to the hydrogen stuff)

They have customers.
Out of the two steelworks Australia has left, 75% of structural steel made in Australia is made in Whyalla.
Port Kembla I believe is the other steelworks, owned by Bluescope. Only Whyalla makes 'long steel' products.

Unfortunately in this instance you can’t just scrub out the hydrogen stuff. They have tied funding of the plant and future operation to hydrogen. This not only complicates issues, will cause disruption, and become a money pit for the state. Just keep the damn plant running using current tech to keep up existing orders. Upgrade where necessary, and leave the hydrogen stuff to Twiggy, so long as he can find funding.

I meant I scrubbed it because I wasn't replying to it.
But in any case, they're apparently selling the hydrogen stuff off now anyway.