Qarsoodi ku xiran: Qalabka Aluminiumka ee Bell Bay wuxuu ku dhacayaa dhagxaan, dadka iyo ganacsiga
Qarsoodi ku xiran: Qalabka Aluminiumka ee Bell Bay wuxuu ku dhacayaa dhagxaan, dadka iyo ganacsiga. Heshiiska kheyraadka ee Hydro Tasmania iyo Rio Tinto wuxuu dhamaadayaa dhamaadka 2026, balse weli ma jiro isku-dowr. Qarsoodi ku xiran: Qalabka Aluminiumka ee Bell Bay wuxuu ku dhacayaa dhagxaan, dadka iyo ganacsiga. Heshiiska kheyraadka ee Hydro Tasmania iyo Rio Tinto wuxuu dhamaadayaa dhamaadka 2026, balse weli ma jiro isku-dowr.
Heshiiska kheyraadka wuxuu ku dhacayaa dhagxaan
Rio Tinto iyo Hydro Tasmania ayaa muddo laba sano ka badan ku wada hadlaya heshiis cusub oo 10 sano ah oo kheyraadka u dhaxeya, balse weli ma aysan gaarin isku-dowr. Tallaabooyinka ugu dambeeyay waxay muujinayaan in labada dhinac ay ka fog yihiin $60 milyan bishii, taas oo ka dhigaysa $600 milyan muddada heshiiska oo dhan. Heshiiska hore ee bilowga ah ee la gaaray bishii November ee hore ayaa ahaa mid kooban oo kaliya, kadib markii dowladda Tasmania ay ku gacan-saartay.
Susie Bower, oo ka tirsan ururka Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, waxay sheegtay in heshiis la gaaro muddo bilowga ah, si loo hubiyo amniga shaqaalaha iyo bulshada. Waxay intaas ku dartay in qalabka Bell Bay Aluminium uu leeyahay 200 ganacsi oo ku xiran, taas oo ka dhigaysa in dhac uu keeni karo khasaare weyn oo dhaqaale ah oo ku yimaada gobolka.
Qarsoodi ku xiran: Qalabka Aluminiumka ee Bell Bay wuxuu ku dhacayaa dhagxaan
Dowladda Tasmania waxay marar badan u sheegtay dowladda federaalka in qalabka Bell Bay loo baahan yahay in la taageero, laakiin waxay la kulantay in aan loo ogolayn in la helo lacagta $2 milyar ah ee loo qoondeeyay qalabka aluminiumka ee dhaqaalaha dhexe. Tim Ayres, wasiirka ganacsiga federaalka, wuxuu sheegay in aan la xaqiijin karin in la qaado tallaabooyin federaal ah, sida kuwa la siiyay qalabka New South Wales iyo Queensland.
Waxaa sidoo kale jira warbixin ka soo baxday EY, oo sheegaysa in qalabka Liberty Bell Bay uu ahaa mid aan si fiican loo maareyn, kaas oo ku bixiyay $191 milyan lacagta kale ee GFG Alliance. Dean Gibbons, shaqaale hore oo 40 sano ka shaqeynayay qalabka, wuxuu sheegay in xaaladdu ay aad u adag tahay, isagoo intaas ku daray in saddex qoys oo shaqaale ah ay isku dhaceen.
Dadka iyo ganacsiga waa inay isku dayaan inay ilaaliyaan
Roy Green, professorka UNSW, wuxuu sheegay in qalabka Bell Bay uu aad u muhiim yahay dhaqaalaha Australia iyo Tasmania, balse wuxuu intaas ku daray in aad u adag tahay in la ogaado haddii lacagta federaalka ay noqon karto mid macquul ah. Tim Ayres wuxuu sheegay in uu ka xun yahay in qalabka Liberty Bell Bay uu dhaco, isagoo intaas ku daray in uu ahaa mid aan si fiican loo maareyn.
Dean Gibbons wuxuu sheegay in haddii qalabka Bell Bay Aluminium uu dhaco, dadku ay ku dhacaan inay sameeyaan dhagxaan. Waxaa sidoo kale jira warbixin ka soo baxday EY, oo sheegaysa in qalabka Liberty Bell Bay uu ahaa mid aan si fiican loo maareyn, kaas oo ku bixiyay $191 milyan lacagta kale ee GFG Alliance.
The Rio Tinto-owned Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania is on the brink of closure as its power agreement with Hydro Tasmania expires at the end of 2026, with negotiations deadlocked over a $600 million cost gap that threatens hundreds of jobs and the town's economic future.
Power Deal Deadlock Threatens Smelter Survival
Rio Tinto and Hydro Tasmania have been locked in negotiations for a new 10-year power agreement for the Bell Bay facility for more than two years, with the current deal set to expire at the end of 2026. Despite state government intervention last November, the parties only agreed to a one-year bridging deal, leaving the smelter in limbo as the cost gap remains unresolved.
Tasmanian Energy Minister Nick Duigan told state parliament that Hydro and Rio Tinto are approximately $60 million a year apart in cost, amounting to a staggering $600 million over the contract's ten-year life. Industry group Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone warns that a deal must be struck by the end of the month to provide certainty to workers and the community.
Supply Chain Collapse Could Hit Hundreds of Jobs
The smelter's collapse would have a devastating impact on the local economy, with over 200 businesses in its supply chain at risk. A local engineering firm revealed it would have to sack more than half of its 80 workers immediately if it were to close, illustrating the cascading effect of such a failure on the region's economic stability.
Susie Bower from Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone expressed the gravity of the situation, stating that the community has already taken a major hit with the closure of Liberty Bell Bay and cannot afford another blow. She recalled being in the room when 217 people were told they no longer had jobs, vowing not to face another 550 job losses in the coming months.
Federal Intervention Remains Uncertain Amid Community Outrage
Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres has not ruled out federal intervention, citing the billion-dollar-plus bailouts provided to Rio Tinto's aluminium smelters in New South Wales and Queensland. However, the Tasmanian government has been told the smelter is not eligible for the federal government's $2 billion green aluminium credit scheme, set to start in two years' time, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty and frustration.
Former Liberty Bell Bay worker Dean Gibbons, who worked at the smelter for 40 years, voiced the community's anger, stating that if Bell Bay Aluminium were to collapse, there would almost be a public riot. He highlighted the toll the closure has taken on workers, noting three marriage break-ups in his work group and the emotional strain on colleagues.
Ilaha iyo xuquuqda sawirka
Sawir: ABC Australia Xigasho
