澳大利亚联邦政府与新南威尔士州政府联合宣布为该国最大铝冶炼厂Tomago Aluminium推出价值25亿澳元的救助一揽子计划[1]。该厂由力拓公司控股，面临2028年电力合同到期后电费翻倍的困境[1]。根据政府协议，力拓承诺投入11亿澳元用于低碳制造和灵活调度，其中包括1亿澳元的低碳制造投资[1]。
这项救助旨在保护1000多个就业岗位[1]。电力成本是Tomago运营的关键考量，占工厂总成本的40%[1]。该厂年产铝量达59万吨，其电力消耗占新南威尔士州电力供应的10%以上[1]。总理阿尔巴内塞表示，"Tomago不仅对Hunter地区重要，也是国家和我们制造业未来的关键资产"[1]，并回顾了他去年12月访问该厂时做出的承诺——"我们支持你们"[1]。
Australia's federal and New South Wales state governments have announced a multi-year rescue agreement to save Tomago Aluminium, the nation's largest aluminium smelter, from closure [1]. The package is valued at $2.5 billion and addresses the facility's critical vulnerability to soaring energy costs once its current power contract expires in 2028 [1].
Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter, will invest $1.1 billion as part of the deal, with $100 million dedicated to low-carbon manufacturing initiatives and flexible scheduling capabilities [1]. The agreement aims to preserve over 1,000 jobs at the facility [1]. Electricity currently represents 40 percent of the smelter's operating costs, and expenses are projected to double when the existing power arrangement terminates [1]. The plant produces 590,000 tonnes of aluminium annually and consumes more than 10 percent of New South Wales's total electricity supply [1].
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared that "Tomago is not just critical to the Hunter region, but a key asset for our nation and the future of our manufacturing industry" [1]. The government commitment builds on assurances Albanese made during a December visit to the facility, when he stated "we support you" [1].