Mayors Welcome Zen, GFG Alliance
Upper Spencer Gulf Mayors have welcomed news that the new owner of the Whyalla steelworks has purchased a major share in South Australian renewable energy company, ZEN Energy.
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer said the partnership – known as SIMEC Zen Energy – is a significant coup for the state and for the Upper Spencer Gulf.
“ It is a great alliance and great news for our region, which is already proving to be a leader in renewable energy projects.”
Chair of Spencer Gulf Cities and Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson said the Upper Spencer Gulf has been working towards securing the region as a major economic hub for renewable energy for several years.
“We received Commonwealth funding support in 2014 to help us id entify opportunities across a range of renewable energy technologies that would take best advantage of our competitive strengths and support our economic transition. Through this background work and our more recent focus on a range of growth sectors, we identified three very clear priorities in relation to renewable energy.”
“ The first is to help secure construction of large-scale renewable energy generation facilities in the Upper Spencer Gulf and the second priority is to establish a research innovation hub in the region to trial and test new renewable energy and clean technologies.”
“ We also believe the three cities also have considerable potential to assist the manufacture and construction of new and innovative renewable energy and associated supply chain projects.”
Port Pirie Mayor John Rohde said the investment is a substantial step forward for the region.
“The joint venture between GFG Alliance and Zen adds further weight to these priorities and confidence that we can achieve these goals for the Upper Spencer Gulf.”
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Contact:
Mayor Sam Johnson, Port Augusta Council – Mob: 0423 291 127
Mayor Lyn Breuer, Whyalla Council – Mob: 0419 806 415
Mayor John Rohde, Port Pirie Regional Council – Mob: 0417 080 961
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