BlueScope CEO Tania Archibald's speech at the Melboune Mining Club

29 April 2026

BlueScope, the leader of one of the biggest and most important decarbonisation projects, NeoSmelt, in partnership with BHP, Mitsui Iron Ore Development, Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy, was a key topic during our CEO, Tania Archibald’s speech at the Melbourne Mining Club today. Together, we are investigating the proposed development of Australia’s largest ironmaking Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and Electric Smelting Furnace (ESF) pilot plant to help secure the future of Pilbara iron ore as the global steel industry transitions to an increasing level of lower emissions DRI production. Other topics, such as trade and energy reform needed to support a future made in Australia, including the potential for green metals production were also addressed.  

More broadly, energy policy is a real issue for Australian manufacturers, including steelmakers like BlueScope. We welcome the Federal Government’s Gas Market Review report, acknowledging the important ongoing role of gas for some critical sovereign manufacturing sectors and recommending that a domestic gas reservation scheme.   

Tania closed her speech by saying that we believe in manufacturing and a Future Made in Australia – including a future made with steel.