Interim CEO Primary Steel and Mining, Theuns Victor has extended a warm welcome to Tony Swiericzuk as new Managing Director of Whyalla’s LIBERTY Primary Steel (LPS) operations.
With 30-years’ experience in the metals and mining sector, Tony (his last name is pronounced Sir…rich…ic) was most recently the CEO and Managing Director of mineral exploration and development company Salt Lake Potash and before that at Fortescue Metals Group in senior operational and management roles across their mining operations.
Tony is no stranger to Whyalla either, having spent three years at Bramble Industrial Services under One Steel. His appointment is a timely one given the recent commitment by the South Australian Government to install a major hydrogen facility in Whyalla by 2025.
“Tony will play a major role in the continued turnaround of Whyalla primary steel and its transformation to GREENSTEEL,” Mr Victor said.
“With the South Australia Government’s plan to install a major hydrogen facility in Whyalla by 2025, our plant has never been in a better position to become the leading green steel and green iron producer in the world.”
In a seamless transition, Tony takes over the reins from acting Managing Director Subhajyoti Mukherjee (SM) who has done a tremendous job in looking after the operation since April this year. SM will continue his role as General Manager Operations with the company looking forward to seeing the amazing work Tony and SM will do together going forward.
The sort of knowledge and experience SM has at the Whyalla operation will be invaluable for Tony as he gets his feet under the desk and continues the progress already made in recent times.
The Whyalla steelworks has, over the past four years, ploughed an additional $30m into maintenance, secured a $50m deed grant working with the South Australian Steel Taskforce and has recently been awarded with a $292m contract with the Australian Rail Track Corporation to supply rail for the Australian Inland Rail project.
This is an exciting time for LPS and its group of key GFG Alliance Australian companies that includes the SIMEC Mining operations (iron ore in the Middleback Ranges and coal at Tahmoor in NSW) along with our ferrous alloy smelter in Tasmania’s Bell Bay.