Job losses at mining operations in South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The ABC can reveal about 350 jobs have been cut at mining operations in South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf which are linked to the Whyalla Steelworks owner, GFG Alliance. Reporter Harvey Biggs has the latest.

Transcript

00:00The ABC understands management for mining contractor Goldings met with workers today

00:06and will meet with its night shift teams tonight to inform them that around 350 jobs have been

00:13lost as the company brings forward its planned ramp down of haematite mining at its middle

00:18bank ranges.

00:19In September, Goldings and fellow contractor SRG shed around 116 jobs as part of the first

00:26phase of this wind down.

00:28It was understood Goldings planned to keep its mining of haematite until around the middle

00:32of this year, but sources tell me it has changed its plans and has decided to end this part

00:37of its operations this week.

00:40The mines are owned by GFG Alliance, which owns the Whaler Steelworks.

00:44The company said it will be placing its mining operations at Iron Knob into care and maintenance

00:49and will continue to work with all of its contract partners.

00:53It's had some better news lately, having brought its ailing coal-fired blast furnace at the

00:57steel plant back online last week after a four-month shutdown, and is now forecasting

01:03it may increase its workforce at the steel plant soon.

01:07But while these latest job losses were forecast, they've happened sooner than anticipated,

01:12and they're a real blow for workers and the town of Whaler.

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