Targets to reduce lead in air (LIA) emissions from Nyrstar’s smelter in Port Pirie have been set in its operating licence, which has been renewed for 12 months.

Key points:

  • The Port Pirie smelter licence has been renewed for 12 months
  • Operator Nyrstar says lead in air (LIA) levels are down 8 per cent from last year
  • The licence will require a plan to reduce heavy metals in wastewater

Issued by the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the license called for a 37.5 per cent cut in average annual LIA emissions down to 0.25 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre).

However this would not be enforced under the licence.

The maximum LIA limit of 0.4 µg/m³, introduced in 2020, would remain in place.

EPA chief executive Tony Circelli said the past year had “the best emissions outcome from Nyrstar over recent years”.

The smelter reported an 8 per cent LIA reduction compared to the previous year.

“[The non-enforceable goal] will be a metric for Nyrstar to consider its ongoing performance and the need for further investment and improvement for the operations,” Mr Circelli said.

The EPA board, including Mr Circelli and Mr Webb in the centre, toured the smelter site in May.(Supplied: South Australia EPA)

Nyrstar national vice-president Dale Webb said LIA reduction was a critical focus for the company.

“Over the coming months we have more activities including improved on-site road cleaning, major recladding of buildings and stockpile reductions,” he said.

The company announced construction of a $23 million product recycling facility to reduce LIA concentrations would begin this year, co-funded by the state government.

Expectations from new presiding minister

Deputy premier and minister for the environment and industry Susan Close toured the plant ahead of the new licence implementation.

“Our conversations will be about what they are doing to get to that goal [of 0.25 µg/m3], rather than just sitting underneath the hard limit [of 0.4 µg/m3] that sits in their licence,” Ms Close said.

Ms Close and Member for Stuart Geoff Brock toured Nyrstar following the smelters license renewal. They met new recruit Josh Barkla, centre. (Supplied: Nyrstar)

“I have every reason to think they will be able to make me feel very confident that they will be able to meet that goal, as well as be under the limit.

“We want to be assured that this smelter is going to work financially, but we also need to be assured that the health of people, particularly children, is assured into the future.”

In addition to the new LIA targets, the licence would require Nyrstar to submit a plan of action to reduce wastewater emissions to the EPA by December 2, with a focus on cadmium, zinc and lead.

The company would also be required to assess mercury generation and emissions from site operations, due to Australia’s ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury last year.

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