The union representing workers says the consortium's interest was conditional on the Tasmanian government waiving the pre-existing environmental liabilities at the site. (Supplied)
The union representing workers at Australia's last manganese smelter in Bell Bay, Tasmania, says there are parties interested in taking over the site.
On Monday, creditors voted to liquidate Liberty Bell Bay, leaving about 200 workers without a job after more than a year of uncertainty.
The union representing workers says the latest interest is conditional on the Tasmanian government waiving the pre-existing environmental liabilities at the site and the continuation of the existing power deal.
The union representing workers at Australia's last manganese smelter says there are parties interested in taking over the site.
Creditors on Monday voted to liquidate Liberty Bell Bay, leaving about 200 workers without a job.
Manganese is a critical component to make steel, meaning Australia no longer has sovereign steelmaking capability.
The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) said a consortium involving White Oak and OM Holdings was conditionally interested in buying the site and eventually restarting the smelter.
"The consortium has been involved in a range of discussions with private investors and they believe that they have enough private investors to recapitalise the plant," assistant branch secretary Robert Flanagan said.
Workers at the Liberty Bell Bay smelter have faced a long period of uncertainty about their futures. (ABC News)
Liberty Bell Bay stopped operations in May last year, originally citing ore supply challenges and global market volatility.
The company's owner, GFG Alliance, has been accused of moving about $200 million out of Liberty Bell Bay via inter-company loans.
Liquidator EY Parthenon believes Liberty Bell Bay was trading while insolvent for more than a year, including when the Tasmanian government granted the company a $20 million loan.
Of that, $14.5 million was used to purchase ore — which the government has since repossessed due to the failure of the company to resume operations.
The union said the consortium had established a new company to bid to take over the site.