The Western Australian government is accelerating efforts to diversify WA’s nation‑leading economy, launching an Expression of Interest (EOI) to secure locally-produced green steel for major government infrastructure projects.
The initiative forms a key part of the Made in WA plan, aimed at making more products locally, supporting regional manufacturing businesses, and embedding cleaner industrial practices across sectors.
Exporting green iron precursors to green steel is recognised as one of WA’s biggest opportunities to add value to its world‑class iron ore resources.
State government support is already being provided to emerging projects across Kwinana, the Mid West, and the Pilbara that will produce these low‑emission precursors.
Under the plan, major government projects — including railways, roads, transmission lines, and future hospital developments — will be encouraged to use green steel manufactured in WA.
The move will also enable the creation of a recycling stream to repurpose steel from decommissioned mining and offshore oil and gas infrastructure, further strengthening the state’s clean manufacturing credentials.
As part of new local sourcing requirements, the government will apply an “if not, why not” procurement principle that explicitly favours Western Australian‑made green steel across construction and public infrastructure works.
To support the transition, the government will publish a Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) Addendum for steel, setting out stronger expectations for local sourcing and recognising the value of recycled and low‑emissions materials.
It will also ensure value‑for‑money assessments consider the full economic benefits of using locally manufactured steel.
The government will increase the supply of WA steel to projects in key sectors, including health, transport, and clean energy, and will release an open‑market EOI to identify green‑steel producers ready for off‑take agreements.
In a further step, new directions will be issued to Western Power, Synergy, and Horizon Power under the Government Trading Enterprises Act 2023 to prioritise local content procurement.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the announcement marked a major step towards establishing a homegrown renewable‑powered green steel sector.
“Locally made green steel is a key part of my vision to become a renewable energy powerhouse and make more things here,” Cook said.
“This announcement is a signal of intent to this new green steel industry – we want you here.”
Cook said the government’s approach to procurement would help decarbonise the economy while using local manufacturing to spark a new industry for Western Australia.
He said that by leveraging government projects, the state would generate employment beyond construction, extending into manufacturing, apprenticeships, and training opportunities across workshops and fabrication yards, reflecting the goals of the Made in WA plan he championed at this year’s election.