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.

Nyrstar licence

On 30 June 2023 the EPA issued Nyrstar with a 5-year licence.

See licence here: Nystar Licence

The licence requires Nyrstar to implement an Environmental Improvement Programme (EIP) that contains detailed actions and timeframes aimed to achieve a reduction in lead-in-air (LiA) emissions.

The EPA approved the EIP in September 2024, which includes 37 actions to be completed within fixed timeframes. The EIP is available on the EPA Public Register. Nyrstar also provides a list of the EIP compliance actions on its website.

Lead in air (LiA) emissions requirements

Nyrstar’s current licence reduces the 12-month rolling 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 (micrograms per cubic metre) each year, reaching a level of 0.32µg/m³ by December 2026.

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

The licence contains three levels of Lead in Air (LiA) performance which all reduce over the term of the licence:

12 month rolling average limit measured at Pirie West and Oliver Street - exceeding limits is a non-compliance that will be investigated by the EPA.
12 and 3 month rolling 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.

Nyrstar 31122024

Monitoring results

Lead in Air

Nyrstar has exceeded the 12-month rolling average LiA limit of 0.36 µg/m³ at the Pirie West Primary School monitoring location for the period to 30 June 2025, reporting a level of 0.38 µg/m³.

Nyrstar complied with the 12-month rolling average LiA limit of 0.36 µg/m³ at the Oliver Street monitoring location for the period to 30 June 2025, reporting levels of 0.31µg/m³.

The 12-month rolling average TSP LiA targets were exceeded at the Ellen Street (1.6µg/m 3) and Boat Ramp (0.54µg/m³) monitoring locations for the period to 30 June 2025, reporting levels of 2.07 µg/m³ and 0.62 µg/m³ respectively.

The 12-month average goal of 0.32 µg/m³ was exceeded at Pirie West monitoring location for the period to 30 June 2025.

The licence requires Nyrstar to provide a summary report detailing the cause, and the details of any remedial actions it proposes to take to prevent further LiA licence limit exceedances. The EPA will consider this report in determining its regulatory response and the report will be available on the Public Register upon request.

Sulfur Dioxide

Nyrstar has achieved a 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 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.

EPA Monitoring Data

Nyrstar rolling annual average lead in air 2014 2025

Nyrstar2

Data is until the end of 2024

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	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
31/03/2025	0.36	0.33	0.29
30/06/2025	0.36	0.38	0.31

Nyrstar long term trend hourly SO2 Port Pirie

Data is until the end of 2024

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

	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

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.

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