Overview
- Major lender White Oak initiated the appointment of administrators to Australia’s only manganese alloy smelter at Bell Bay.
- Ernst & Young says its immediate priorities are stabilising operations, securing short-term funding for wages, and launching a sale or recapitalisation process.
- Roughly 200 to 216 jobs are in limbo, with administrators planning to meet the workforce as soon as possible.
- Tasmania’s government, a prior $20 million lender, has convened a response team after earlier appointing receivers to protect a $14.5 million ore shipment delivered in October.
- The plant has been largely idle since May 2025 due to ore supply issues, and its future holds national significance for critical metals supply.