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Smelter to shut despite sale bid, hundreds of jobs lost
Administrators said no viable sale path remained, leaving more than 200 workers facing redundancies and entitlements claims.
- On Thursday, July 16, 2026, administrators EY announced the immediate closure of Liberty Bell Bay, Australia's only manganese smelter, after a proposed sale collapsed.
- The consortium comprising Adroit Capital, White Oak Global Advisors, and OM Holdings ceased pursuing the transaction Wednesday due to "difficulty with enabling arrangements, including a range of operating requirements."
- Ending a facility supported by $150 million in state funding over the past decade, the closure affects about 250 jobs and follows a failed $20 million rescue attempt.
- Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres called the closure a "very sad day," noting it is "deeply difficult news" for the region.
- Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone chief executive Susie Bower activated an employment hub to support staff, while a small team will remain on-site to manage the orderly closure.
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11 Articles
Australia’s Only Manganese Smelter to Shut, Over 200 Jobs Lost
Australia’s only manganese smelter will close, leaving more than 200 people without jobs. Hopes of selling northern Tasmania’s Liberty Bell Bay, which has been under administration since March, copped a big blow in June when a key member of a buying consortium pulled out. On Wednesday, the remaining consortium members told administrators they had ceased pursuing a sale, following troubles with enabling arrangements including operating requiremen…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Left, 44% Right
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left, 44% of the sources lean Right
45% Left
L 45%
11%
R 44%
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