News Brief: Tomago Aluminium Smelter Secures Future with Government Deal
Summary
The Australian federal government has announced a deal in principle to ensure the Tomago Aluminium smelter, the nation’s largest, remains operational beyond 2028. The agreement, to be finalized in the new year, involves a long-term power purchasing arrangement to address high energy costs that threatened the smelter’s viability.
Key Points
- Deal Finalization: An agreement between the company, Commonwealth, and NSW governments is set to be finalized in early 2024.
- Reason for Intervention: Soaring energy prices made the smelter’s future beyond its 2028 power contract “unviable.”
- Government Rationale: PM Albanese stated the investment is crucial for the aluminum industry, jobs, and preventing significant knock-on effects to other sectors.
- Solution: A long-term power purchasing agreement will underwrite new electricity generation, storage, and transmission for the facility.
- Impact: The smelter employs over 1,000 people directly, supports ~4,000 contractor jobs, and produces 40% of Australia’s aluminum.
- Costs Unclear: Minister Ayres did not disclose the deal’s cost to taxpayers, citing complex arrangements and shared benefits/costs.
新闻简报：政府达成协议确保Tomago铝冶炼厂2028年后继续运营
摘要
澳大利亚联邦政府宣布已原则上达成一项协议，以确保该国最大的Tomago铝冶炼厂在2028年之后能够继续运营。该协议将于新年最终确定，其中包括一项长期电力购买安排，以解决威胁该厂生存的高能源成本问题。
关键要点
- 协议最终确定：该公司、联邦政府和新南威尔士州政府之间的协议将于2024年初最终确定。
- 政府干预原因：能源价格飙升使得该冶炼厂在2028年电力合同到期后的未来”不可行”。
- 政府理由：阿尔巴尼斯总理表示，此项投资对于铝业、就业以及防止对其他行业产生重大连锁效应至关重要。
- 解决方案：一项长期电力购买协议将为该设施的新发电、储能和输电项目提供支持。
- 影响：该冶炼厂直接雇佣超过1000人，支持约4000个承包商工作岗位，并生产澳大利亚40%的铝。
- 成本未明：艾尔斯部长未透露该协议对纳税人的成本，理由是安排复杂且利益/成本共享。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/tomago-aluminium-secures-government-deal/106135134