Source: Argus Media
The Queensland state government in Australia has designated three green steel projects as prescribed projects, enabling the planning minister to expedite approvals and reduce state reliance on imported steel, the government announced on 23 September 2026.
The fast-tracked developments include two electric arc furnace (EAF) mills that will use recycled scrap as feedstock, along with a recycled metal processing facility. Australian steelmaker Alter Steel plans to begin construction of its 500,000-tonne-per-year Pinkenba recycling and manufacturing facility near Brisbane in 2027, with first production expected in 2028 or later.
Fellow steelmaker Future Forgeworks aims to commence construction of its 350,000-tonne-per-year Swanbank steel mill in southeast Queensland during the October-December quarter, targeting completion in 2028. Scrap metal recycler Sims Metal received prescribed project status for its 215-million-Australian-dollar Pinkenba Redevelopment Project, a dedicated recycled metal processing facility.
The initiative comes at a critical time for Australian steelmaking. Australia currently operates two major steelworks: the 2.1-million-tonne-per-year Port Kembla facility run by BlueScope in New South Wales and the 1.2-million-tonne-per-year Whyalla steelworks in South Australia, which shuttered its blast furnace on 14 September 2026. The federal government has pledged over 2.88 billion Australian dollars to support the Whyalla transition to a low-emissions steelmaking facility.
The Queensland projects reflect a broader Australian push toward green steel production, leveraging abundant scrap resources and renewable energy potential to build a more resilient domestic supply chain and reduce dependence on imported steel products.
