Nyrstar Australia – Port Pirie

Nyrstar Australia - Port Pirie

Nyrstar Australia’s site in Port Pirie is one of the world’s largest multi-metal smelters, producing lead, silver, copper and by-products such as sulphuric acid. The Port Pirie smelter has been in continuous operation for over 130 years, employing over 800 people and 300 contractors. It is located on the Port Pirie River in the Upper Spencer Gulf, 230km north of South Australia’s capital city, Adelaide. It is interlinked with Nyrstar Australia’s Hobart site, which has been in continuous operation for more than 100 years, and produces green zinc and other by-products.

On 14 September 2022, Nyrstar Australia was accredited as an alkaline battery recycler, the first B-cycle accredited recycler to recover commodity-grade quality metals from alkaline batteries, such as zinc and copper, for international commodity markets.

The zinc component of the batteries is processed into zinc oxide and transported to Nyrstar’s Hobart operations where it is refined into zinc products ready for export and use within Australia and New Zealand.

Nyrstar is pursuing future opportunities globally to sustainably contribute to the circular economy through low-waste mineral processing and broader decarbonisation opportunities.

Nyrstar Australia Port Pirie is certified to ISO 14001, AS/NZS 4801, ISO 9001, AS/NZS 5377, EN ISO/IEC 17025.