Hasan said that the exported steel would be used to establish a hospital in New Zealand.

Rio Tinto is not concerned about China's plans to centralise iron-ore purchases and has strong ties with its customers, the Australia CEO for the global miner said on Friday.

Many European countries have recently announced the reopening of coal power plants as gas supplies from Russia have slumped amid European Union sanctions.

The Mehrum power plant in Germany is back in operation due to the current gas supply crisis.

These measures have raised concerns that the EU might scale back its climate ambitions.

The district, part of an old coal-mining region that closed five years ago, has taken up the challenge of transforming the local economy, embracing green agriculture despite the poor soil and lack of water.

"The situation on the gas market is tense," Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck said in a statement.

Premier receives $18.1m in funding for Zulu pilot processing plant