Port Talbot steelworks enters green era – but thousands already out of work
WORK has officially begun on a £500 million green steel project in Port Talbot, marking a new chapter for the UK's largest steelworks — but one that arrives after the loss of thousands of jobs and amid ongoing uncertainty for former workers.
On Monday (July 14), Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, and Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran broke ground on the construction of a new electric arc furnace (EAF), which will form the centrepiece of Tata Steel's transition to low-carbon steelmaking.
The UK Government says the new facility will secure 5,000 jobs, reduce carbon emissions at the site by up to 90%, and place Welsh industry at the heart of a national push toward net zero.
Thousands already made redundant
While ministers praised the milestone as a sign of progress, many in the Port Talbot community are still grappling with the human cost of the transition.
In January 2024, Tata Steel announced it would shut down both blast furnaces, citing unsustainable losses and the need to modernise. The company confirmed that up to 2,800 jobs would be cut across the UK, with around 2,500 of those losses in Port Talbot.
Since then, hundreds of workers have already left, either through voluntary redundancy, early retirement, or compulsory lay-offs, with the first blast furnace already closed by autumn 2024.
Although the UK Government pledged £80 million in transition support, including retraining and regeneration funding, unions and some MPs say many workers have been left behind.
Union: 'Bittersweet day for Port Talbot'
The Community Union, which represents many of the affected steelworkers, described the groundbreaking as 'bittersweet.'
Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said: 'This is a consequence of the devastating closure of the blast furnaces, but importantly a future for Port Talbot steelmaking is being secured.
'Today should represent the first step towards rebuilding our steel industry and creating new high-quality jobs. Going forward, we must see further investment to grow the business — both in Port Talbot and at crucial downstream sites.'
The union also emphasised that Electric Arc Furnaces require far fewer workers than traditional blast furnaces, and warned that unless the government steps up investment and industrial planning, many skilled workers could be lost from the industry for good.
Ministers promise long-term support
Speaking at the event, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'This is our Industrial Strategy in action. We're backing Welsh steelmaking and securing thousands of jobs for the future. This government is committed to a bright future for our steel industry, which is why we provided £500 million of funding to make this project possible.'
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens added: 'The construction of Tata's new furnace realises the promise we made to the community. Our Steel Strategy will deliver up to £2.5 billion of investment to rebuild the UK industry, maintain jobs and drive growth.'
Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said the day marked 'the beginning of a new era' for the company in the UK.
'At Port Talbot, we are building the foundations of a cleaner, greener future, supporting jobs, driving innovation, and demonstrating our commitment to responsible industry leadership,' he said.
Council welcomes but acknowledges uncertainty
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, also welcomed the development, which received planning permission from the local authority earlier this year.
'This is the start of a new era for a town shaped by steelmaking,' he said. 'We know change brings uncertainty, but this is a significant and welcome milestone as our communities adjust to the future shape of steelmaking in Port Talbot.'
Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: 'Ensuring the electric arc furnace is completed on time is absolutely essential to safeguard as many skilled jobs as possible.
'However, the people of Port Talbot won't easily forget, or forgive, the Government's failure to step in and protect local jobs, as they did in Scunthorpe. That disparity has rightly been seen as a betrayal of our industrial communities.'
What comes next
The Electric Arc Furnace is expected to be operational within a few years. Meanwhile, Industry Minister Sarah Jones chaired a meeting of the UK Steel Council in Cardiff on Monday to discuss the wider Steel Strategy — including procurement reform, energy cost relief for producers, and stronger safeguards against steel dumping.
As the dust settles on the groundbreaking ceremony, Port Talbot begins the difficult task of balancing hope for a cleaner, more sustainable future with the legacy of industrial decline and the livelihoods already lost.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
12 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Campaigners and industry respond to ‘once-in-a-generation' water reform report
Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said public trust in water companies had been 'drained' by poor environmental performance and wider service failures. The much-anticipated final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, outlined 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to turn around the ailing industry. Mr Keil said: 'The commission has set out significant changes to the regulatory system. 'But water companies have always had the freedom to do what's right by their customers – and many have made bad choices.' Mr Keil said affordability must be a key focus of reform, with households already struggling following this year's sharp rise in water bills. 'More people are turning to CCW to complain about not being able to afford their bill,' he said. 'Over two in five households have told us they've cut spending on essentials like food to make ends meet. 'The case for a single social tariff for water has never been more urgent.' He welcomed recommendations to make the existing voluntary ombudsman scheme mandatory, saying: 'We're delighted the commission has recommended building on our work at a time when we're seeing more people turn to us for help.' But River Action chief executive James Wallace accused the commission of falling short, saying it had 'blinked' when faced with a chance to break with the past. 'This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a broken and corrupted system,' he said. 'Instead, we've been handed vague policy nudges that leave the current failed privatised water company model intact.' Mr Wallace said nothing less than 'a credible plan to rescue Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' was needed, including a clear path to bring 'failing companies like Thames Water into public control'. He called on the Government to put Thames Water into special administration as a 'powerful statement of intent', warning: 'Our water is our life-blood and not for sale.' Water UK, the trade body for the water companies, welcomed the commission's findings, calling reform 'long overdue'. A spokesperson said: 'Everyone agrees the system has not been working. 'These recommendations should establish the foundations to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.' Richard Benwell, a member of the Independent Water Commission's expert advisory group and chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said a 'culture of rule-breaking and non-compliance' was harming rivers and wetlands, and called for a more powerful and independent environmental regulator. He welcomed the proposal for new regional water authorities but warned reforms would fall short without proper funding and a clear steer from Government. 'Reforming regulators without fixing resourcing and remit would be painting over cracks,' he said. Ali Morse, water policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said the report offered 'strong recommendations' for more integrated, regionally driven planning, but warned time was running out to act. 'The commission has set the framework – now the Government must act with purpose,' she said. Gary Carter, national officer at the GMB union, said the report confirmed what the union had argued for years – that water privatisation had been a 'disastrous failure'. He accused company bosses of profiting while the water infrastructure 'crumbles through lack of investment' and sewage pollutes rivers. 'It's a disgrace – and one Ofwat has overseen,' he said. 'Now is the time to fundamentally reform the water sector and renationalise this vital resource.'
Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Campaigners and industry respond to ‘once-in-a-generation' water reform report
Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said public trust in water companies had been 'drained' by poor environmental performance and wider service failures. The much-anticipated final report from the Independent Water Commission, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, outlined 88 recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments to turn around the ailing industry. Mr Keil said: 'The commission has set out significant changes to the regulatory system. 'But water companies have always had the freedom to do what's right by their customers – and many have made bad choices.' Mr Keil said affordability must be a key focus of reform, with households already struggling following this year's sharp rise in water bills. 'More people are turning to CCW to complain about not being able to afford their bill,' he said. 'Over two in five households have told us they've cut spending on essentials like food to make ends meet. 'The case for a single social tariff for water has never been more urgent.' He welcomed recommendations to make the existing voluntary ombudsman scheme mandatory, saying: 'We're delighted the commission has recommended building on our work at a time when we're seeing more people turn to us for help.' But River Action chief executive James Wallace accused the commission of falling short, saying it had 'blinked' when faced with a chance to break with the past. Low water levels at Yorkshire Water's Agden Reservoir, near Sheffield (Dave Higgens/PA) 'This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a broken and corrupted system,' he said. 'Instead, we've been handed vague policy nudges that leave the current failed privatised water company model intact.' Mr Wallace said nothing less than 'a credible plan to rescue Britain's rivers, lakes and seas' was needed, including a clear path to bring 'failing companies like Thames Water into public control'. He called on the Government to put Thames Water into special administration as a 'powerful statement of intent', warning: 'Our water is our life-blood and not for sale.' Water UK, the trade body for the water companies, welcomed the commission's findings, calling reform 'long overdue'. A spokesperson said: 'Everyone agrees the system has not been working. 'These recommendations should establish the foundations to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.' Golfers play on watered greens in Warwick as the West Midlands officially entered a drought (Jacob King/PA) Richard Benwell, a member of the Independent Water Commission's expert advisory group and chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said a 'culture of rule-breaking and non-compliance' was harming rivers and wetlands, and called for a more powerful and independent environmental regulator. He welcomed the proposal for new regional water authorities but warned reforms would fall short without proper funding and a clear steer from Government. 'Reforming regulators without fixing resourcing and remit would be painting over cracks,' he said. Ali Morse, water policy manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said the report offered 'strong recommendations' for more integrated, regionally driven planning, but warned time was running out to act. 'The commission has set the framework – now the Government must act with purpose,' she said. Gary Carter, national officer at the GMB union, said the report confirmed what the union had argued for years – that water privatisation had been a 'disastrous failure'. He accused company bosses of profiting while the water infrastructure 'crumbles through lack of investment' and sewage pollutes rivers. 'It's a disgrace – and one Ofwat has overseen,' he said. 'Now is the time to fundamentally reform the water sector and renationalise this vital resource.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
UK promised ‘biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation'
Environment Secretary Steve Reed is initiating 'the biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation' amid growing anger at poor service, spiralling bills and the pollution of Britain's waterways. The reforms include establishing a new water ombudsman with legal powers to resolve consumer disputes. The government pledges to halve river pollution by 2030 and eliminate it completely by 2035. A key recommendation of the reform is expected to be the scrapping of Ofwat and the creation of a new regulator. This overhaul will involve a £104 billion investment to rebuild the country's crumbling sewage pipes.
