Liberty awarded $292 million rail contract

Liberty Primary Steel has been awarded a $292 million contract to make 147,000 tonnes of steel for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), much of which will be used in the Inland Rail.

The steel will be produced at the Whyalla steelworks. Liberty has previously supplied to the project, including for the first section of the track, Parkes to Narromine, which was awarded soon after GFG Alliance took ownership of Whyalla and other assets from the collapsed Arrium group. 

The new contract would see 110,000 tonnes of steel made by Liberty for remaining sections of Inland Rail, plus steel for upgrades to Narrabri and Turrawan and on NSW’s Southern Highlands line.

“Inland Rail will further strengthen our freight network, keeping supply chains open, providing exporters with better access to international markets and creating jobs and economic opportunities for businesses,” said federal infrastructure minister Barnaby Joyce on Wednesday.

“This $292 million contract is a vote of confidence in Australian manufacturing, ensuring the high-quality steel needed to bring Inland Rail to life is made by Australians for the benefit of Australians.”

Previous orders for the 1700 kilometre freight rail network had been “vitally important” for the Whyalla steelworks’ survival, said Grey MP Rowan Ramsey. 

“In recent times the facility has returned to profit and I am confident this profitability will result in the investment we require to ensure the steelworks’ long-term viability.

Picture: whyalla.com

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