Whyalla Steelworks
Encyclopedia
Whyalla Steelworks is owned by OneSteel
which was spun out from BHP
in 2000
of a blast furnace and ship yard at Whyalla. At this time, only iron was made and sold as pigs or sent to other BHP Plants. Coke
comes from Newcastle
or Port Kembla and ships pick up ore from Whyalla, which has been mined in at Iron Knob and transported by rail to to Whyalla since 1901.
built ships at the Whyalla plant from the 1940s until the 1970s.
The ironmaking department encompasses the blast furnace coke ovens and the power and services department at the Whyalla steelwork and this were the iron is produce with it leaving the area molten for the BOS
for turn in to steel.
Blast Furnace No1 was built between 1938 and 1941, blown in 1941, relined in 1965, closed in 1981 and demolished 1997
Blast furnace No2 was built in 1965, relined 1981 and again in 2004
Powerhouse
The powerhouse provides electricity
around the plant as well as providing air to the blast furnace via blowers. Compressed air is also produced for around the plant for use by a number of other departments.
This is the third BHP
powerhouse at Whyalla and the oldest built, in 1941, as part of the No1 Blast furnace with 2 turbo alternators and 2 turbo blowers to provide air to the blast furnace and electrically to the steelworks, mines and company townships with ETSA coming in the 1960s.
The first powerhouse was built to provide electricity
to the township's of Whyalla and Iron knob which were company towns along with electricity to the mines; the second powerhouse was built to replace it in the 1920s and decommissioned in late 1941, although it was still standing in the 1990s
Boilerhouse
Built in 1941 with 3 boilers—No4 was added in 1950 and Number 5 and 6 in the late 1960s. Only Number 5 and 6 remain in full time operation, with number 4 on standby.
Salt Water Pump House
Built in 1941 with 3 salt water pumps with another 3 pumps later on. Only 5 are left, with No1 now a backup diesel pump.
Coke Ovens
The coke ovens was built in the 1960s with 2 batteries, with another battery added in the 1980s
. The track maintenance is carried out by Transfield services.
Locomotives
Locomotives that currently operate inside the steelworks are from the 900, CK or GM classs for the standard gauge hot metal and steel products shunt.
OneSteel
OneSteel is an Australian-based mining, ore processing and steel manufacturing company specialising in steel-long products for the construction, mining, transport and agricultural industries...
which was spun out from BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
in 2000
History
The Whyalla steelworks was first established in May, 1941, with the construction by BHPBHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
of a blast furnace and ship yard at Whyalla. At this time, only iron was made and sold as pigs or sent to other BHP Plants. Coke
Coke
Coke may refer to:* Coca-Cola, a soft drink originally based on coca leaf extract** The Coca-Cola Company, makers of this drink** Cola, any soft drink similar to Coca-Cola** Soft drink, any non-alcoholic carbonated beverage* Coca, a plant...
comes from Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
or Port Kembla and ships pick up ore from Whyalla, which has been mined in at Iron Knob and transported by rail to to Whyalla since 1901.
Shipyards
BHPBHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
built ships at the Whyalla plant from the 1940s until the 1970s.
The Steelworks
In the 1960s, a BOS rolling mills were built at Whyalla along with the coke ovens which enabled the Whyalla plant to become a fully fledged steelworks.Departments
IronmakingThe ironmaking department encompasses the blast furnace coke ovens and the power and services department at the Whyalla steelwork and this were the iron is produce with it leaving the area molten for the BOS
Basic oxygen steelmaking
Basic oxygen steelmaking , also known as Linz-Donawitz-Verfahren steelmaking or the oxygen converter process is a method of primary steelmaking in which carbon-rich molten pig iron is made into steel. Blowing oxygen through molten pig iron lowers the carbon content of the alloy and changes it into...
for turn in to steel.
Blast Furnace No1 was built between 1938 and 1941, blown in 1941, relined in 1965, closed in 1981 and demolished 1997
Blast furnace No2 was built in 1965, relined 1981 and again in 2004
Powerhouse
The powerhouse provides electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
around the plant as well as providing air to the blast furnace via blowers. Compressed air is also produced for around the plant for use by a number of other departments.
This is the third BHP
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
powerhouse at Whyalla and the oldest built, in 1941, as part of the No1 Blast furnace with 2 turbo alternators and 2 turbo blowers to provide air to the blast furnace and electrically to the steelworks, mines and company townships with ETSA coming in the 1960s.
The first powerhouse was built to provide electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
to the township's of Whyalla and Iron knob which were company towns along with electricity to the mines; the second powerhouse was built to replace it in the 1920s and decommissioned in late 1941, although it was still standing in the 1990s
Boilerhouse
Built in 1941 with 3 boilers—No4 was added in 1950 and Number 5 and 6 in the late 1960s. Only Number 5 and 6 remain in full time operation, with number 4 on standby.
Salt Water Pump House
Built in 1941 with 3 salt water pumps with another 3 pumps later on. Only 5 are left, with No1 now a backup diesel pump.
Coke Ovens
The coke ovens was built in the 1960s with 2 batteries, with another battery added in the 1980s
Railways
The rail network inside the steelworks is both standard and narrow gauge. The rail operations are carried out by GWA, which also operated the ore train for export for OnesteelOneSteel
OneSteel is an Australian-based mining, ore processing and steel manufacturing company specialising in steel-long products for the construction, mining, transport and agricultural industries...
. The track maintenance is carried out by Transfield services.
Locomotives
Locomotives that currently operate inside the steelworks are from the 900, CK or GM classs for the standard gauge hot metal and steel products shunt.