UK firm proposes green manganese production at liquidated Tasmanian smelter

Liberty Bell Bay, Tasmania's sole manganese alloy smelter, was placed into liquidation following financial difficulties at its former owner, GFG Alliance, and the collapse of a preferred buyer consortium that included White Oak. Around 200 employees were dismissed as the liquidators, EY Parthenon, began winding up the asset. Natrium Redox Technologies, led by executive chairman Dr Bill Higgs, has been discussing a green manganese project with state and federal officials since March.

The company proposes either reviving the submerged arc furnaces and installing a sodium-based, CO₂-free processing unit capable of handling 35,000-70,000 tonnes annually, or constructing a smaller plant to process roughly 20,000 tonnes of existing waste to remediate the site. Higgs estimates the restart could employ over 220 workers, while the remediation option would initially create about 14 jobs. He requests a combined $15 million contribution from the Tasmanian and Australian governments, with the remainder funded privately, and notes that the site carries an estimated $200 million environmental liability that could be reduced over time.