Tata Steel has ceased operations of Blast Furnace 5 at its Port Talbot plant in south Wales, as part of its ongoing restructuring programme.
This decision is driven by the need to address financial losses, reportedly exceeding £1 million per day and to move towards more sustainable production methods.
The decommissioning of Blast Furnace 5 began immediately after the last batch of liquid iron was produced on 4th July 2024.
The company plans to shut down the second blast furnace, Blast Furnace 4, by the end of September 2024.
This closure follows the shutdown of the Morfa Coke Ovens earlier this year in March.
Despite these closures, Tata Steel assures that supplies to customers will remain uninterrupted.
The company will rely on its global operations and other key suppliers to provide the necessary materials for its downstream mills and processing sites.
Tata‘s restructuring plans are expected to result in the loss of around 2,800 jobs, drawing strong opposition from unions.
Despite the expected job losses, Tata Steel has pledged to make every effort to mitigate the impact on affected employees and the local community.
Tata Steel UK’s Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Nair said: “Our challenge is now to focus on a more sustainable and competitive future for our business that will ensure the continuation of steelmaking in the UK for generations to come.”
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