Nyrstar - Port Pirie
The Port Pirie lead and multi-metal smelter has been in operation for more than 130 years.
Nyrstar holds a licence under the Environment Protection Act 1993 (the Act) for several activities of environmental significance.
2023 licence renewal
On 30 June 2023 the EPA issued Nyrstar with a new 5-year licence. The licence has been developed after extensive review and assessment by the EPA to further strengthen licence conditions.
This longer-term licence reflects Nyrstar’s current performance, enables improved environmental outcomes, and allows Nyrstar to achieve its long-term commitment and investment in lead emission reduction.
See 'community updates' for further information.
Monitoring lead in air (LiA)
The EPA undertakes verification monitoring at 4 locations in Port Pirie: Ellen Street, Pirie West Primary School, Oliver Street and Frank Green Park.
Nyrstar is required as part of its EPA licence to monitor LiA at four locations across Port Pirie, Ellen Street, Pirie West Primary School, Oliver St and the Boat ramp. This monitoring informs the limits, targets and goals within the EPA licence.
2023 licence renewal − progressive LiA limit and target reductions
Nyrstar’s current licence reduces the annual average LiA limits, that were introduced in the 2023, by 20% over the 5-year licence. This is achieved through a stepwise reduction of 0.02µg/m3 each year, reaching a level of 0.32µg/m³ by December 2026.
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30 September 2023 0.40 µ/m3 TSP lead
31 December 2023 0.38 µ/m3 TSP lead
31 December 2024 0.36 µ/m3 TSP lead
31 December 2025 0.34 µ/m3 TSP lead
31 December 2026 0.32 µ/m3 TSP lead
31 December 2027 0.32 µ/m3 TSP lead
The licence now contains three levels of Lead in Air (LiA) performance expectations which all reduce over the term of the licence:
- 12 month average limits measured at Pirie West and Oliver Street - exceeding limits would result in a direct regulatory response from the EPA.
- 12 and 3 month average targets - exceedances of the targets require Nyrstar to investigate the root cause and where possible improve site operations, to demonstrate to the EPA that it has implemented appropriate responses.
- 12 month average goals, which if not met, provide the EPA with the opportunity to require review and/or amendment of the Environment Improvement Programme (EIP) for the site. A final 12-month average goal of 0.25 µg/m³ TSP is set for 30 June 2028.
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Monitoring results
Lead in Air
Nyrstar complied with its annual average Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) LIA limit of 0.36 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre) at both the Pirie West and Oliver Street monitoring stations on 31 December 2024.
However, the 12-month rolling average TSP LiA target at the Ellen Street and Boat Ramp monitoring stations were exceeded in the 12-month period prior to 31 December 2024. The EPA continues to focus on ensuring continuous environmental improvement at the Port Pirie Smelter.
Sulfur Dioxide
Nyrstar has achieved a significant reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions in recent years, however the EPA is aware that Nyrstar does still experience intermittent emission events associated with operation of its Acid Plant. Under its EPA licence, Nyrstar must do everything reasonable and practicable to control sulfur dioxide emissions and impacts to the residents of Port Pirie. The licence is now aligned with the updated National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure.
For real-time emissions data, please visit the Nyrstar website.
| Compliance date |
Limit µg/m3 |
Pirie West µg/m3 |
Oliver St µg/m3 |
| 31/03/2018 |
0.50 |
0.45 |
0.39 |
| 30/06/2018 |
0.50 |
0.43 |
0.42 |
| 30/09/2018 |
0.50 |
0.47 |
0.48 |
| 31/12/2018 |
0.50 |
0.49 |
0.48 |
| 31/03/2019 |
0.50 |
0.48 |
0.44 |
| 30/06/2019 |
0.50 |
0.44 |
0.40 |
| 30/09/2019 |
0.50 |
0.30 |
0.24 |
| 30/12/2019 |
0.50 |
0.24 |
0.24 |
| 31/03/2020 |
0.50 |
0.24 |
0.24 |
| 30/06/2020 |
0.50 |
0.28 |
0.28 |
| 30/09/2020 |
0.40 |
0.37 |
0.32 |
| 31/12/2020 |
0.40 |
0.41 |
0.33 |
| 31/03/2021 |
0.40 |
0.39 |
0.31 |
| 30/06/2021 |
0.40 |
0.36 |
0.27 |
| 30/09/2021 |
0.40 |
0.31 |
0.27 |
| 31/12/2021 |
0.40 |
0.25 |
0.22 |
| 31/03/2022 |
0.40 |
0.27 |
0.22 |
30/06/2022
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0.40 |
0.27 |
0.22 |
| 30/09/2022 |
0.40 |
0.30 |
0.18 |
| 31/12/2022 |
0.40 |
0.29 |
0.17 |
| 31/03/2023 |
0.40 |
0.30 |
0.18 |
| 30/06/2023 |
0.40 |
0.31 |
0.18 |
| 30/09/2023 |
0.40 |
0.30 |
0.23 |
| 31/12/2023 |
0.38 |
0.29 |
0.26 |
| 31/03/2024 |
0.38 |
0.30 |
0.28 |
| 30/06/2024 |
0.38 |
0.29 |
0.29 |
| 30/09/2024 |
0.38 |
0.30 |
0.28 |
| 31/12/2024 |
0.36 |
0.35 |
0.30 |
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Data is until the end of 2024
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Data is until the end of 2024
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Data is until the end of 2024
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Archive of EPA lead in air results
EPA data is not used to assess Nyrstar’s compliance against the licence limit(s).
How is LiA measured and interpreted
The LiA concentrations are measured using high volume air samplers according to the Australian Standard method for total suspended particles which are particles of size less than 50 µm (millionths of a metre) and it includes a mixture of large and fine particles.
This instrument is used to collect total suspended particle samples by drawing a large known volume of air through a pre-weighed filter for 24 hours. After sampling, the filter is re-weighed and the difference in filter weight is the collected particulate matter mass. Dividing the mass by the volume of air sampled gives the concentration of TSP. The particulate matter retained on the filter is analysed to determine the concentration of lead by an analytical laboratory.
The Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 2016 provides a legislative basis for regulating and managing air quality in SA, including criteria for developing effective conditions to assist businesses and industries to improve their performance in minimising risk from air emissions through a system of licensing. For Nyrstar’s licence, the EPA has also considered international best practices and latest health advice in deriving new lead in air limits and targets.
How to interpret LiA monitoring data from Port Pirie
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1-day-in-6 sampling (EPA) |
Daily sampling (Nyrstar) |
| What is it? |
Lead content analysed in the 24-hour averaged TSP (total suspended particles) sample collected every 6th day |
Lead content analysed in the 24-hour averaged TSP sample collected every day |
| How to calculate annual average? |
Lead concentration from limited samples (approximately total 60 in 1 year) are averaged to calculate annual average |
Lead concentration from daily samples (365 samples in 1 year) are averaged to calculate annual average |
| How these data are presented? |
Rolling annual average of lead in air in µg/m3 on a time series graph |
Rolling annual average of lead in air in µg/m3 on a time series graph |
| What does it say about lead in air levels? |
Informs long-term trends and assist in understanding impact on public health |
Provides the basis for compliance against licence limit |
| Does this type of data trigger any regulatory response? |
No. However it raises concerns if the levels are in excess of normal expected fluctuations and background levels. |
Yes, if the annual average levels are above lead in air limits. Triggers regulatory response if the levels are above the limit. |
Nyrstar monitoring portal
Real-time data
Community updates and reports
- Licence renewal update 6, 30 June 2023
- Licence renewal update 5, 30 June 2022
- Licence renewal update 4, 30 May 2022
- Site contamination audit statement, May 2022
- Licence renewal update 3, 30 June 2021
- Environment Improvement Program, 29 December 2020
- Licence renewal update 2, 30 June 2020
- Licence renewal update 1, 3 June 2020
- Previous licence, July 2018–June 2020
- Interim licence renewal, May 2018
Further information
For further information on EPA-related enquiries, please contact the EPA on (08) 8204 2176 or email.
For further information on health-related queries, please contact SA Health on (08) 8226 7100.
For further information, please visit Nyrstar’s designated webpage.
