The South Australian government has provided a $12-million concessional loan to Hallett Group Pty Ltd for a "green cement" project in Port Augusta. This initiative aims to transform 20 million tonnes of leftover fly ash from the former Port Augusta power station into green cement.
Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the partnership, stating that the project is expected to create approximately 150 jobs during its construction phase and about 50 ongoing roles. Construction is slated to commence by the end of the current year.
The Green Cement Transformation Project will be located at the vacant site of the former coal-fired power station, which ceased operations in May 2016. Its objectives include supporting industrial renewal in the Upper Spencer Gulf and addressing a reported cement and concrete shortage within the state. The technology developed by Hallett Group is projected to double South Australia's cement production capacity and achieve a 60 percent carbon reduction compared to traditional cement production.
Once operational, the project will establish two infrastructure hubs: one in Port Augusta, utilizing fly ash from the former Northern Power station, and another in Port Adelaide, which will repurpose waste by-products from the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter for green cement production.
Port Augusta resident Michelle Coles expressed support for the project, citing its potential benefits for the community and ecosystem due to the removal of fly ash, which historically caused issues in 2017. However, Ms. Coles raised a concern regarding a potential increase in heavy vehicle traffic on local roads.