Whyalla Steelworks is owned by OneSteel which was spun out from BHP in 2000
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The Whyalla steelworks was first established in May, 1941, with the construction by BHP 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.
BHP built ships at the Whyalla plant from the 1940s until the 1970s.
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.
Ironmaking
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 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 Onesteel. 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.