Hundreds of jobs at Whyalla steelworks to go after blast furnace closure decision
The aging blast furnace at the Whyalla steelworks has been offline since April, and a decision to keep it shut or potentially restart it is expected today. The closure would result in the loss of 500 workers and over 100 contractors.
Workers at the Whyalla steelworks were informed this morning that hundreds of jobs will be lost following a decision to permanently shut down the blast furnace. The facility has been offline since April despite efforts by staff to restart it. Administrators KordaMentha, alongside state and federal governments, are finalizing plans for the sale of the company after 19 months in administration. Premier Peter Malinauskas indicated the equipment is nearing its end of life. If administrators decide not to bring the furnace back online, hundreds of direct employees will become unemployed, along with approximately 100 contractors and those indirectly employed by the site.
