A year after Tata Steel halted its blast furnace operations in Port Talbot due to significant financial losses, work is actively progressing for a new steelmaking facility at the site. The company stated that it was losing £1 million per day, leading to the redundancy of approximately 2,000 workers. Currently, about 400,000 tonnes of material have been removed, and the construction of a £1.25 billion electric arc furnace (EAF) is underway. This new facility aims to melt scrap steel and will create jobs for up to 1,200 workers during its construction phase.
Project manager Peter Jones emphasized the importance of Port Talbot’s steelmaking heritage, noting the commitment to transitioning towards greener steel production. While production has shifted to using imported steel slabs milled on-site, the plan is to start melting scrap metal in the new EAF by the end of 2027. The transition involves repurposing existing structures and constructing new buildings alongside them. Current site activities include clearing space for the new furnace and preparing access routes for transport.
Local businesses are also adjusting to the changes, with some benefiting from the new construction opportunities. Runtech, a family-run company established in 1996, supports the steel industry and has successfully reallocated its workforce after the closure of the blast furnaces. Additionally, Dan Morgan, who founded South Wales Water, has hired 12 former steelworkers with support from the Tata Steel transition board, aimed at reskilling the local workforce.
As the community adapts to this shift in the steel industry, there remains a focus on preserving its history while looking forward to new opportunities in the evolving landscape of steel production.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89d5yvqknwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss