原标题：South Australia pledges $650m for Whyalla steelworks

The South Australian 2025–26 State Budget has allocated $650 million towards the $2.4 billion industry support package for the Whyalla steelworks, designed to support local jobs and stimulate growth in the state’s steel sector.

In March, Whyalla steelworks’ owner – OneSteel Manufacturing – was placed under administration amid various operational challenges at the site.

In response, the South Australian Government’s 2025–26 State Budget will contribute $650 million towards the Whyalla steelworks support package.

The state contribution will allocate:

• $192 million to stabilise the steelworks during administration

• $395 million to modernise the steelworks and ensure future sustainability

• $63 million to act as an emergency response package.

The State Government credited its forecasted surplus of $18 million for the 2024–25 financial year for its ability to quickly help Whyalla steelworks.

“Posting three consecutive surpluses gives the (State) Government greater flexibility to respond swiftly to unexpected events, such as the Whyalla rescue and drought relief packages,” South Australian Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said.

As reported by The Australian Financial Review, Mullighan said the South Australian Government will not purchase an equity stake in a new ownership structure for Whyalla steelworks.

“That’s not what we’re planning for. We don’t want that to be the solution here,” Mullighan said.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) chief executive officer Warren Pearce welcomed the state funding for Whyalla, but called for increased exploration expenditure following a recent downturn in Australian exploration activity.

“While the $650 million package to save Whyalla steelworks is a step that helps to sure up key infrastructure and industrial capability in the region, industry is looking for support to discover and deliver new mines,” Pearce said.

Pearce called for the South Australian Government to release its Critical Minerals Strategy, as it is the only jurisdiction to not have one.

AMEC is advocating for increased funding towards the South Australian Critical Minerals Strategy delivery, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining so it can progress the Mining Act 1971 amendments, accelerating tenement administration so exploration can commence quicker, and co-funding drilling initiatives.

The $2.4 billion package

Back in March, the Federal and South Australian Governments announced a $2.4 billion industry support package for Whyalla steelworks, which aims to provide immediate on the ground support, stabilise the Whyalla steelworks business, and invest in the asset’s future.

A total of $99.2 million will fund the immediate on the ground support, while $384 million will be spent to keep Whyalla steelworks operating during administration for a six-month period, which commenced on February 19.

“This ($384 million) funding is critical to ensuring workers and contractors will have ongoing work at the steelworks and will continue to be paid,” the South Australian Government said.

“Acknowledging the likelihood of an extended sale process, a further $384 million is provisioned in 2025–26 on the basis that the Commonwealth Government will agree to continue to contribute on a 50:50 basis.”

The SA and Federal Governments will also co-invest $1.9 billion in the future of Whyalla steelworks. The investment will see both governments work with the steelworks’ potential new owner to fund new upgrades and infrastructure to protect the asset’s long-term future.

“To support a new owner to invest in the necessary upgrades and new infrastructure which will be vital to ensuring the steelworks has a sustainable, long-term future,” the South Australian Government said.

“To prioritise securing the steelworks’ future, the government will defer the implementation of its Hydrogen Jobs Plan and reallocate funding for the new hydrogen production facility to this initiative.”

In light of the US tariff on steel and aluminium imports increasing from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, Mullighan said the Whyalla steelworks sale process is not likely to be impacted.

“We still remain confident that we’re going to successfully transition this into the hands of a new buyer,” Mullighan said, as reported by AFR.

【以下为机器翻译结果，仅供参考阅读】

南澳大利亚州2025-26年国家预算已为Whyalla钢铁厂的24亿美元行业支持计划拨款6.5亿美元，旨在支持当地就业并刺激该州钢铁行业的增长。

今年3月，Whyalla钢铁厂的所有者OneSteel Manufacturing因在现场面临各种运营挑战而被置于管理之下。

作为回应，南澳大利亚政府的2025-26年国家预算将为Whyalla钢铁厂的支持计划提供6.5亿美元。

国家出资将分配：

拨款一亿九千二百万元，在政府执政期间稳定钢厂

拨款3.95亿元，使钢铁厂现代化，确保未来的可持续发展

6 300万美元作为紧急反应一揽子计划。

州政府将其2024-25财政年度预计盈余1800万澳元归功于其迅速帮助Whyalla钢铁厂的能力。

南澳大利亚财政部长Stephen Mullighan表示，“连续三年录得盈馀，让（州政府）政府有更大的灵活性，可以迅速应对意外事件，例如Whyalla救援计划和抗旱救援计划。”

据《澳大利亚金融评论报》报道，Mullighan表示，南澳大利亚政府不会购买Whyalla钢铁厂新所有权结构中的股权。

“这不是我们的计划。我们不希望这成为解决方案。”

澳大利亚矿业和勘探公司协会（AMEC）首席执行官Warren Pearce对政府为Whyalla提供资金表示欢迎，但由于最近澳大利亚勘探活动低迷，他呼吁增加勘探支出。

Pearce说：“虽然拯救Whyalla钢铁厂的6.5亿美元一揽子计划有助于确保该地区的关键基础设施和工业能力，但工业界正在寻求支持，以发现和交付新矿山。”

皮尔斯呼吁南澳大利亚政府发布其关键矿产战略，因为它是唯一没有这一战略的司法管辖区。

AMEC正在倡导增加对南澳大利亚州关键矿产战略交付的资金，南澳大利亚州能源和矿业部，以便推进1971年采矿法修正案，加快矿权管理，以便更快地开始勘探，并共同资助钻探计划。

24亿美元的一揽子计划

早在3月份，联邦和南澳大利亚政府就宣布了一项24亿美元的Whyalla钢铁厂行业支持计划，旨在提供即时的实地支持，稳定Whyalla钢铁厂的业务，并投资于该资产的未来。

总共9920万美元将用于立即的实地支助，而3.84亿美元将用于在2月19日开始的六个月的行政期间保持Whyalla钢铁厂的运作。

南澳大利亚政府表示：“这笔（3.84亿美元）的资金对于确保工人和承包商在钢铁厂继续工作并继续获得报酬至关重要。”

“考虑到延长出售过程的可能性，在联邦政府同意继续以50:50的比例出资的基础上，在2025-26年再提供3.84亿美元。”

南澳州和联邦政府还将共同投资19亿美元用于未来的Whyalla钢铁厂。通过这笔投资，两国政府将与该钢铁厂的潜在新东家合作，为新的升级和基础设施提供资金，以保护该资产的长期未来。

南澳大利亚政府表示：“支持新业主投资必要的升级和新的基础设施，这对确保钢厂拥有可持续的长期未来至关重要。”

“为了优先保障钢铁厂的未来，政府将推迟实施其氢气就业计划，并将新氢气生产设施的资金重新分配给该计划。”

鉴于美国对钢铁和铝进口的关税从 25% 提高到 50%，Mullighan 表示，Whyalla 钢厂的出售过程不太可能受到影响。

据AFR报道，Mullighan表示：“我们仍然相信，我们将成功地将其移交给新买家。”