![\"\u2018It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/9c852a4a3bdf4bf31d361c485c12704b.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nAbout 200 jobs will go as Australia\u2019s last manganese smelter will close after failing to find a buyer.<\/p>\n
The Liberty Bell Bay smelter in Tasmania fell into administration in March but it will now be shut down.<\/p>\n
This comes despite administrator EY-Parthenon announcing in May it had entered an agreement with a consortium to purchase the business.<\/p>\n
A major financial backer pulled out of the deal last month and the deal ultimately collapsed last week.<\/p>\n
“In the absence of both a commercially viable transaction, and the funding required to continue operations, the Administrators have made the difficult decision to commence the orderly closure of the business with immediate effect,” EY-Parthenon said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“These difficulties were, in part, driven by the broader economic challenges associated with operating the smelter in a volatile global economy.”<\/p>\n
Employees were informed on Thursday morning and told more details will be shared next week.<\/p>\n
The company will retain a small workforce to demobilise the site, facilitate selling its assets and meet regulatory obligations.<\/p>\n
The Bell Bay Joint Unions said workers were \u201creeling\u201d from the announcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese workers have made an immeasurable contribution to the Tasmanian economy, and deserve full wrap-around support from state and federal government,\u201d the Unions said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s news comes as a blow after a protracted fight to save their smelter and the hundreds of local jobs it supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The unions called on the state and federal governments to do \u201ceverything in their power to prevent the closure of this vital asset\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201c(This will) have devastating effects on the local economy and community,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmphasis must be on supporting the workforce, their families, and their community, who will be most negatively affected by the likely collapse of this vital industrial asset.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Unions are calling on the State and Federal governments to engage with the administrator to find a mechanism so that the sale process can be resumed.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Industry Minister Tim Ayres lamented the closure of the smelter.<\/p>\n
“This is deeply difficult news for the workers of Liberty Bell Bay and the communities of Bell Bay, George Town and northern Tasmania who have fought tirelessly for a better outcome,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
“Both the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments are now focused on ensuring workers and their families are supported during this time, with immediate on-ground support now available.”<\/p>\n
The smelter was constructed by BHP in 1962 and acquired by Liberty Steel Group, which is owned by British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, in 2021.<\/p>\n
Liberty Bell Bay in April said it would need to make about 175 workers redundant.<\/p>\n
Both the federal and Tasmanian governments gave the smelter a $3 million lifeline.<\/p>\n
That followed a $20 million loan from the Tasmanian government in August and after being in limited operations since May last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"About 200 jobs will go as Australia\u2019s last manganese smelter will close after failing to find a 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