Green metals in Gladstone

The Net Zero Economy Authority recently attended the Gladstone Green Metals and Industry Workshop, held in one of the Authority’s priority regions of Central Queensland.

The event brought together industry, community and government to explore Australia’s comparative advantage in producing green metals, built on our rich resources and abundant renewable energy. 

With the right investment in local production, Australia has the potential to become one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of green metals, leading the global shift to net zero.

The event discussed projects such as BioCarbon’s GreenChar - Renewable Steel Carbon Substitute and other green metal projects across the country. These projects can deliver major economic benefits for industrial hubs like Gladstone as well as wider Central Queensland. 

At the finalisation of the Workshop, a community forum on Green Metals for Gladstone was held, with more than 50 community members attending. 

The Authority’s Ali Bahramzadeh spoke at the forum and outlined the Commonwealth’s role in workforce transition planning, helping communities and businesses prepare for opportunities in the new economy. 

Ali also spoke about the Authority’s investment facilitation role in Central Queensland:

‘We’re working to ensure that new industries, like green metals, don’t just bring investment, they bring inclusive opportunity. That means jobs that are accessible, safe, and long-term.’

Queensland Conservation Council Gladstone Environmental Advocate Emma Smith told the forum, ‘Decarbonising our industry is really important for the future of our region because international players, like Rio Tinto, have made it clear that they have to repower with firmed renewable energy to stay globally competitive.’ 

Forum speaker, Associate Professor of Engineering Fiona Beck, said ‘There has been a feeling that the net-zero transition has stalled, and it is true that global economic trends have slowed progress, particularly for green hydrogen. However, this hasn't stopped the push to decarbonise global industry, and it is important that Australia moves to keep up so we can grasp the large economic opportunity that this represents for us, particularly in our regions.’

Fundamentally, Ali also reminded Gladstone community members that the Authority is here not just to coordinate, but to listen, challenge assumptions and build a future that works for everyone.