Melbourne based renewable energy developer GreenPoint Energy has offered to hire dozens of workers who lost their jobs at the shuttered Whyalla Steelworks, one of over 20 companies working with the state and federal governments to find new job opportunities.
It was revealed over the weekend that companies including BHP, Cavpower, AdBri, McMahon, Hallett Group, Bunge, Randstad, Greenpoint Energy, and United Salvage, had collectively made available more than 600 job opportunities for local workers impacted by the decision to close the Whyalla Steelworks blast furnace last month.
The South Australian government appointed KordaMentha as administrators of the embattled Whyalla Steelworks in February 2025, but plans to revive the plant’s broken-down blast furnace were abandoned last month, leaving 500 workers out of a job and threatening Australia’s steelmaking for what could potentially be years to come.
Federal and state ministers announced on Sunday that more than 600 job opportunities had already been made available in the Upper Spencer Gulf region from over 20 companies, with roles varying from specialised technical trades to labour hire across sectors including defence, mining, construction, engineering, fabrication, and more.
GreenPoint, a subsidiary of Singaporean developer Equis Development, says it has made available up to 75 job opportunities to ex-Whyalla workers at its Koolunga BESS, which recently reached financial close.
Located near the town of Brinkworth, on the opposite side of the Spencer Gulf to Whyalla, the Koolunga BESS will be a 200-megawatt (MW)/800-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery that is expected to commence operations in early 2028.
West Australian construction company GenusPlus was awarded the contract to build the Koolunga BESS earlier this year, but GreenPoint said on Wednesday that ex-Whyalla workers with skills in electrical, technical supervisor, HV industrial, and construction roles will be offered positions at the project.
“These are highly skilled, transferrable roles that will provide valuable opportunities for those affected by the closure of the Whyalla blast furnace to work on a major future-facing renewables infrastructure project,” GreenPoint explained.
The Koolunga BESS will allow more solar and wind energy to be integrated into the local grid, helping reduce volatility and putting further downward pressure on electricity prices.
“We’re extremely pleased to be able to play a role in connecting affected Whyalla workers to adjacent roles at GreenPoint Energy,” said Roby Camagong, co-CEO of GreenPoint Energy.
“This is a highly skilled workforce with the technical expertise needed for a major renewable infrastructure project like our Koolunga BEES. We continue to work closely with the South Australian and Federal Governments and look forward to welcoming impacted workers to our team in due course.”
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