GSWA chooses GHD as Owner’s Engineer on planned Collie green steel plant

Professional services firm GHD has been appointed as Owner’s Engineer by Green Steel of WA (GSWA) to develop the Collie steel recycling plant, which GSWA plans to have running in 2026.

According to a statement from GHD on Tuesday, it will provide multidisciplinary services related to the plant’s specifications; support engineering, procurement, and construction engagement; develop concept design; and manage project approvals.

“I am really pleased that we have been appointed to assist Green Steel of WA to develop this project as it will create lasting community benefit both in terms of an immediate boost to the local Collie economy and long-term reduction in carbon emissions from the production of green steel,” said Michael Nolan, GHD’s Executive Leader – Energy & Resources.

According to GWSA’s website, it expects to make a final investment decision on the plant – where an electric arc furnace will convert scrap steel into rebar and rod using renewable electricity – in Q2 2024, with development to begin soon after. The estimated budget of the plant is $400 million. (Further information at this link.)

It expects to process over 400,000 tonnes of long steel products annually for local and export markets and employ 200 directly.

GSWA Managing Director, Azlan Ho, said green steel presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the state, which produces 38 per cent of the world’s iron ore exports and 600,000 tonnes of scrap steel, yet makes no steel itself. 

“With our abundant iron ore and renewable energy resources, we truly believe that Western Australia is the best place in the world to produce green steel,” said Ho.

“Our research indicates that production of green steel in Western Australian could add as much as $400 billion to the economy each year or nearly three times what we sell in iron ore.

GSWA was established in 2022 and is a part-owned subsidiary of Carbon Transition Pathways.

Its website says GSWA is developing two projects in the state – the Collie mill and a green hydrogen-powered facility in the mid-west making steel from iron ore – though the statement on Tuesday mentions Collie as the “first of several steel manufacturing plants” planned in WA.

Picture: credit Green Steel WA

Further reading

Feasibility study for green hydrogen hub, giant battery at Collie gets funding

Western Australia moves towards green steel production

Australia really is the land of green steel opportunity – study