It’s been seven years since the ‘saviour of steel’ arrived in Whyalla. But hopes for a green transition are fading

The Whyalla community is growing sceptical the steelworks will be transformed as promised by British businessman Sanjeev Gupta. Photograph: Lincoln Fowler/Alamy

The British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta was dubbed the “saviour of steel” for his plans to rescue ailing plants around the world and decarbonise their operations.

But seven years after Gupta’s GFG Alliance bought the struggling Whyalla steelworks, jobs are being lost and promises to invest in the operations remain unfulfilled, eroding hopes of a green steel manufacturing future for the regional South Australian city.