澳大利亚联邦政府与新南威尔士州政府联合宣布一项25亿澳元的十年救助计划，以确保澳大利亚最大铝冶炼厂Tomago在2028年电力供应合同到期后继续运营。[1][2]联邦政府和新州政府各出资1.25亿澳元。[2]该厂由全球矿业巨头里奥廷托(Rio Tinto)运营，直接雇用超过1000名全职员工。[1][2]
这项救助采用创新融资结构，由Snowy Hydro为该厂提供可再生能源和电力，政府承诺从2028年起每年补贴2.5亿澳元，弥补市场电价与协议电价的差额。[1]Tomago计划到2030年使用50%可再生能源，到2035年达到100%。[1]电力成本约占该厂总成本的40%，作为澳大利亚最大电力用户，年消耗量相当于新南威尔士州总需求的10%以上。[1][2]
产业创新部长Tim Ayres在5月表示："如果地方产业出现冶炼厂规模的空洞，新工业企业和技术的全部效益就不太可能实现。"[1]总理Anthony Albanese指出Tomago对纽卡斯尔、亨特地区和澳大利亚制造业前景至关重要。[2]新州州长Chris Minns表示："如果我们要声称会继续在澳大利亚制造商品，我们就不能抛弃Tomago。"[2]
该厂年贡献22亿澳元经济价值，出口额约30亿澳元。[1]不过这笔救助引发关注——按人均计算，相当于每个员工获得250万澳元支持。[2]这是澳大利亚政府在过去两年为陷入困境的金属加工企业提供的最新救助方案，此前还向Rio Tinto Boyne冶炼厂(20亿澳元)、Whyalla钢铁厂(24亿澳元)和格伦科Mt Isa铜冶炼厂(6亿澳元)提供了援助。[2]
Australia's federal and New South Wales state governments have jointly announced a $2.5 billion assistance plan to secure the future of Tomago, the nation's largest aluminium smelter, beyond 2028 when its current power supply contract expires [1][2]. The innovative financing structure channels renewable energy and electricity through Snowy Hydro, with the government committing to provide $250 million annually from 2028 onwards to cover the gap between market electricity prices and the negotiated contract rate [1].
Tomago represents a significant economic asset, generating $2.2 billion in annual economic value and approximately $3 billion in exports while directly employing over 1,000 full-time workers [1]. The facility is the state's largest single electricity consumer, accounting for more than 10 percent of New South Wales's total power supply [2]. Electricity costs represent approximately 40 percent of the smelter's total operational expenses [1]. The assistance package translates to $2.5 million per job, calculated across the smelter's workforce of approximately 1,000 employees [2].
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterised the deal as essential for Newcastle, the Hunter region, and Australia's broader manufacturing future [2], while NSW Premier Chris Minns stated: "If we are to claim that we are going to keep making things in Australia, we cannot abandon Tomago" [2]. The smelter has committed to transitioning to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and achieving complete renewable energy use by 2035 [1]. This initiative represents part of a broader government effort to support struggling metal processing industries; over the past two years, authorities have provided assistance to Rio Tinto's Boyne smelter ($20 billion), Whyalla steel works ($24 billion), and Glencore's Mt Isa copper smelter ($6 billion) [2].
