Blast Furnace 6 Reline

I support the project as it will provide long term job stability for the region

It is essential for Bluescope in Wollongong to maintain current volume of manufacture of Steel, if they are to remain viable in Australia and fulfil domestic requirements.
In the 5 - 10 year future the only way to do this is using the existing technology Blast Furnace smelting of Iron Ore.
The current #5 Blast Furnace will reach end of life in this time so relining and restarting #6 Blast Furnace is required.

I support this project as it continues the longstanding relationship that BlueScope has with its local community.

This Project brings Potential Employment Opportunity for next 10 years at least & meantime BlueScope has already on Securing strategic plans to upgrade Corbon Free emission footprint technology in Infrastructure across BlueScope. Which eventually lower overall environmental impact ,if any. So this Project while in Running state will certainly add another environment impact ,but overall Technology Upgrade in Process will surely eliminate such impact.

This project is great for the Illawarra with a lot of jobs dependent on it. This project is a leap forward for the environment and
for sustainability. The developed Blast Furnace will use less energy and have a smaller carbon footprint than the existing one while efficiently making iron. It will also allow the development of hydrogen fuel for blast furnace heat source

Our company, Port Kembla Gateway Pty Limited, operates a maritime shipping terminal in Port Kembla and was established in the late 1980s. Port Kembla Gateway (PKG) manages No. 6 Jetty in Port Kembla and handles the following commodities:
Approximately 450,000 tonnes p.a. of mineral concentrate, mostly from Newcrest Mining's Cadia Mine near Orange NSW.
Approximately 800,000 tonnes p.a. of cement clinker which is imported by Cement Australia for their Port Kembla Mill. The cement provided covers a large component of the Sydney and southern NSW market.
Other materials including coal tar, fertilisers, scrap steel and general cargo.
PKG is a close neighbour to the Bluescope steelworks and we have no reservations about fully supporting the development. We are confident from our experience of over 30 years in Port Kembla that there will be no detrimental effects on the environment from this proposal. Our facility borders the Bluescope steelworks on its southeast boundary, and we can support the proposed blast furnace reline with no reservations because our experience with our neighbour has always been good.
We anticipate many benefits to existing businesses and industries in the region. Bluescope Steel supports many local businesses through its purchases of materials and services. There will be a significant boost to employment in the region, both during construction and ongoing from the proposed blast furnace reline.
Bluescope is a good corporate citizen and has an outstanding record of proven benefits to Port Kembla and the region.
Please contact me if you need additional information regarding our support for this proposal.

This project will:
• Ensure the ongoing operations of BlueScope at Port Kembla
• Lift and continue Australian manufacturing capability
• Remove Australia’s reliance on imported steel
• Provide employment in the region
• Provided employment and investment to the region across the period of construction

I support this project for the employment opportunities it creates in the area.

I would like to express my support for the no.6 Blast Furnace Reline Project. Not only is this project critical to building and strengthening our Nations sovereignty, it is vital to ensuring the employment of one of the Illawarra regions highest employers - amounting to over 10,000 jobs.

The company have demonstrated in the EIS that sound controls will be utilized and put in place to minimize and even improve their environmental performance. Additionally, the project meets the criteria of maintaining a gradual transition to low emissions steel making as part of their decarbonisation strategy.
Finally, I congratulate BlueScope on a great job consulting with the community on the project, especially during Covid. I have felt well informed throughout the process and appreciate their
‘Open door’ policy, which they actually take seriously.

I strongly support this project. Steel is a major building material used in our country’s infrastructure including the renewable sector. It is vitally important to our sovereignty to have this capability especially as we bridge the gap to potential new technologies. Further the proposed execution strategy intends to utilise the local contractor base to carry out the construction works further boosting the local economy.

To protect the future of local jobs in steelmaking operations at Port Kembla

My husband works for BlueScope and I am very proud of the work they are doing. The $1 Billion No 6 Blast Furnace reline and upgrade project is great for jobs in the region and local contractors. The investment also underpins supporting 10,000 jobs in the Illawarra and secures the future for steelmaking in the region. BlueScope is also making great strides in decarbonising steelmaking for the future and is taking a leading role in exploring and piloting ‘green steel’ alternatives. They have committed $3-400 million to do this out to 2030. This is very exciting for our planet, the sovereign capability of manufacturing in Australia, and importantly the local economy.

I believe the Blue Scope Blast Furnace Reline Project is vital for employment and environmental impact in the Illawarra region

The BlueScope #6 Blast Furnace Reline project is important for the establishment of the next 20 years of rewarding careers for young engineers, operators and tradespeople alike. A new blast furnace campaign will provide stability for a multitude of employees, contractors and families within our region.

The impacts and contributions of No6 Blast Furnace project are enormous. I believe the diligence and rigor in selection of technology have shown to be most appropriate within the scope and the life span of the project. All aspects related and presented in the EIS have covered good ground and looks adequate, and as such No6 Blast Furnace should be promoted and to give the opportunity to proceed.

The reline of 6 blast furnace is vital to the community and local economic.

More jobs created is always good.

The project is of vital importance to the Illawarra region for its economic benefits and also to Australia as a critical supplier of building materials. The economic benefits are from employment, education and development. The critical supply of building materials is important so as Australia is not 100% dependent on offshore supply. Maintaining this supply which includes the processing of raw materials into finished product also provides supporting industries' development. The reline will also see progress towards less environmental impact.

I support the project because Bluescope is a major employer in the area and has demonstrated that it behaves in a responsible manner and strives to be a good corporate citizen. To ensure the business remains secure the Blast furnace needs to be upgraded. Doing so ensure the company can transition to a future steel making plant that strives for a cleaner future by being financially strong to invest in equipment that delivers cleaner emissions without compromising compromising manufacturing efficiency.
Our kids are the future and they need jobs to be have an opportunity to make a value adding contribution to society.

Hirono (Aust) Pty Ltd has been a critical supplier of continuous casting flux to BSL for more than 27 years. The business was created in 1994 following a contractual agreement with BHP (at that time) to support local production of casting flux in Australia. A factory was constructed by a joint venture company called C.I.Ceramics (Aust) and with the support of BSL the company grew to supply many additional products. Under the name of C.I.Ceramics (Aust) the number of employees grew to more than 40 with offices in Albion Park Rail and Whyalla S.A. with almost daily contact between engineers from both companies.
With the closure of #6 blast furnace in July 2011, C.I.Ceramics was unable to continue, due to the substantially reduced business created by a 50% reduction in steel production. As one of the subsidiaries of C.I.Ceramics, Hirono (Aust) was formed to continue production of casting flux for Australian steelmakers. The remaining company now employs 5 full time staff and supports many local companies for services and maintenance.
Hirono is currently in negotiations with BSL for commencement of a new 5 year contract. This will extend the life of Hirono to a time close to the closure of #5 blast furnace.
Without a reline of #6 blast furnace, Hirono will close.
A reline of #6 blast furnace will provide the opportunity for Hirono to continue manufacturing and employment for direct employees, both present and future, with provision of services into the future.
The board of Hirono (Aust) has committed to redevelopment of the factory and service provision in anticipation of a new 5 year contract and a future with an operational #6 blast furnace.
Personally, I have worked in the Australian steel industry for 40 years. I have visited and worked in many steelworks around the world and can not imagine any country prepared to lose the ability to locally manufacture the majority of their steel requirements.
Without a reline of #6 blast furnace, Australia will have virtually no locally produced steel in the near future.
In 5 years time it will be 18 years since the reline of # 5 blast furnace. Operating performance will reduce while maintenance will increase as approaches its end of life. That is assuming there is no catastrophic equipment failure prior to that.
Port Kembla steelworks is the producer of the best steel in Australasia. It has some of the best downstream facilities in the Asia Pacific, with 3 steelmaking furnaces, high level steel treatment facilities, high quality continuous casting machines and modern rolling mills.
Port Kembla steelworks still employs a large number of local people and some of the best engineers in Australia.
Their technical skills will be significantly enhanced by the technology required to reline the blast furnace and develop the world leading environmental technology proposed by BSL. This was demonstrated with the reline of #5 blast furnace in 2009.
There is no doubt the BSL could import steel slabs to be rolled to final product. As was the case a few years ago, these slabs could be purchased at a lower cost than Australian manufactured slabs.
This is the steel necessary to construct large infrastructure, office blocks and suburban houses. The quality of this steel must be assured to Australian Standards to guarantee longevity and safety.
Steel is a product that creates another Australian business of steel recycling.
Current events in world supply and shipping issues have demonstrated with clarity how quickly supply chains can be disrupted or priced above all expectations. Sea freight costs alone have risen 250 % in the last 12 months and the availability of ships and containers has become critical throughout the world.
This project is critical to Australia's manufacturing future.
Regards,
Gary Anderson
Director
Hirono(Aust) Pty.Ltd.
22 Rivulet Crs.
Albion Park Rail 2527
Ph. 42579294
mob 0438371802