Commendation at South Australian Premier’s Awards
17 November 2023
LIBERTY Primary Steel (LPS) has come away from the 2023 South Australian Premier’s Awards: Energy and Mining with a commendation for its Slag-free tapping initiative.
The LPS program was one of five projects nominated by the GFG Alliance LIBERTY Primary Metals Australia operations for the prestigious awards and commendations announced on November 9.
Pitted against industry giants like BHP, Santos and AGL, LPS Managing Director Tony Swiericzuk said he was proud of his team’s submissions and the commendation received for the Slag-free tapping initiative.
“These awards recognised projects and products from across South Australia in the energy and mining sectors, so we are in esteemed company,” Tony said.
“To receive a commendation for the slag-free tapping is a huge achievement and reward for everyone involved in this project.
“It reflects on the work being done at the steelworks across multiple disciplines as we continuously improve our operations and continue the transformation process to GREENSTEEL.”
Slag-free tapping at the Whyalla Steelworks has reduced the amount of slag carried over to downstream processes by applying new technologies, automation, and lean methodologies to detect and then reduce slag carryover.
The commendation was accepted on the night on behalf of LPS by BOS Operations Manager Syed Zaidi and Technology Manager Petr Suchanek.
Now in its 12th year, the awards ceremony was held at SkyCity in Adelaide with winners and commendations decided by a panel of 18 judges from across the industry, government agencies and higher education facilities.
Main picture: Syed Zaidi and Petr Suchanek with Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis with the SA Premier’s Awards commendation.
2023 LPMA Award Nominees
COMMUNITY
(Community projects and programs in the resources exploration or operations for minerals, extractives or petroleum sectors)
GFG Alliance – SIMEC Mining and Liberty Primary Steel. Program: Strong partnerships and strong communities
INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION – PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT
(Productivity and improvement in the resources exploration or operations for minerals, extractives or petroleum sectors)
LIBERTY Primary Steel. Project: Rail Finishing End (RFE) yield improvement
LIBERTY Primary Steel. Project: Slag-free tapping
INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION – INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
(Innovation and collaboration in the resources exploration or operations for minerals, extractives or petroleum sectors)
LIBERTY Primary Steel. Program/project: BOS slag utilisation
SIMEC Mining. Program/project: SIMEC Mining Magnetite Expansion Project – enabling GREENIRON and GREENSTEEL