The long-term future of Tomago Aluminium, one of the Hunter region's major industrial facilities, has been secured through a new agreement involving the Commonwealth and NSW governments. The agreement announced today, 13 August 2026, is aimed at keeping the aluminium smelter operating through to 2038.

Tomago Aluminium is located at Tomago, approximately 13 kilometres north-west of Newcastle, and is a major employer and industrial contributor to the wider Newcastle and Hunter economy. The facility has operated since 1983 and has developed into one of Australia's largest aluminium smelters.

The agreement is significant because the future of the smelter has been closely connected to the availability and cost of electricity. Aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, meaning reliable long-term electricity supply is essential for the facility to remain competitive and continue operating.

Today's announcement provides greater certainty for the smelter, its workforce and the businesses that depend on its operations. A long-term operating commitment can also provide confidence to contractors, suppliers and other companies across the Hunter region that are connected to the aluminium industry.

Tomago Aluminium has been an important part of the Hunter's industrial economy for more than four decades. The facility produces aluminium used in manufacturing and other industries, making its continued operation relevant beyond the local workforce.

The agreement also has broader implications for Australia's manufacturing sector. Maintaining domestic aluminium production reduces reliance on imported aluminium and supports Australia's ability to retain energy-intensive industrial capabilities.

For Newcastle and the wider Hunter region, the announcement is particularly important because large industrial facilities generate economic activity well beyond their own sites. Employees spend wages locally, while contractors and suppliers provide goods and services to support production. Local transport, maintenance, engineering and other specialist businesses can also benefit from continued industrial operations.

The agreement comes during a period of significant change in the Australian energy sector. Governments are working to increase renewable electricity generation while also maintaining reliable energy supplies for major industrial customers. Tomago's future is therefore closely connected to the region's evolving electricity infrastructure and energy transition.

The Hunter region has traditionally been one of Australia's major industrial centres, with mining, manufacturing, energy and port-related activities forming important parts of its economy. Securing the future of a major aluminium facility supports the region's continuing role as an industrial and manufacturing hub.

For workers at Tomago Aluminium, the agreement provides longer-term employment certainty. For the wider community, it reduces some of the uncertainty that has surrounded the smelter's future and supports continued economic activity.

The announcement also provides an important signal for businesses considering future investment in the Hunter. Long-term industrial operations can encourage companies to maintain or expand supporting infrastructure, skills and supply chains.

Tomago Aluminium's continued operation through to 2038 will therefore have implications for the local workforce, manufacturing sector, energy market and wider Hunter economy.

The new agreement represents a significant development for Newcastle and the Hunter, securing the future of a major industrial operation and providing greater certainty for the thousands of people and businesses connected directly or indirectly to the facility.