On Thursday, February 8, the Southland Chamber of Commerce reported that it is assisting to prepare for the potential closure of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter at the end of 2024. The chamber is working closely with the smelter to enable it to deal with any uncertainty if that defers the closure again.
Upon the smelter's closure, about 750 direct jobs would be affected, along with 2,500 livelihoods in the region indirectly associated with the smelter. According to the company's report, the smelter produces about 330,000 tonnes of aluminium a year.
Initially, the smelter was announced to be closed by the end of 2021; however, following a new energy contract with Meridian Energy, it extended its operations until the end of December 2024.
Chief executive of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, Sheree Carey, said that although they are preparing for the closure, they are hopeful that the smelter would remain a part of the region's economy and community for years to come. In May 2023, the chamber secured a 5-year government funding for an engineering and manufacturing cluster to help Southland pave the path for economic transition.
Sheree Carey said: "Being able to secure (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) funding for five years has meant we've been able to establish the Southland Engineering and Manufacturing Cluster to map and build capability in this sector to ensure they're ready to diversify into new industries and grab opportunities locally, nationally and internationally."
The chamber also recently established Southland Innovation Centre to foster innovation and economic growth, and help businesses to collaborate.
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