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£19.99BBC News reporters Maia Davies and Holly Phillips have brought the latest updates on British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant. The government has taken swift action to ensure the plant’s blast furnaces continue to operate by securing essential raw materials. An emergency law passed through Parliament grants the government control of the site to prevent its Chinese owner from shutting it down, a move crucial to keeping the furnaces burning.
Efforts are underway to acquire the necessary coking coal and iron ore to power the plant’s furnaces, materials that were reportedly being sold off by Jingye, the owners. Steel producers Tata and Rainham Steel have offered assistance in providing raw materials, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining the blast furnaces’ temperatures to avoid permanent damage. Restarting a furnace after a shutdown is a complex process that entails considerable costs.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds affirmed his commitment to the future of steelmaking in the UK, highlighting the significance of passing new powers to save British Steel in Scunthorpe. Civil servants and British Steel officials are collaborating to secure a shipment of materials located at Immingham Docks, 30 miles east of Scunthorpe. The closure of the plant could have severe repercussions, as it is the last facility in the UK capable of producing virgin steel, impacting the country’s economic security and status within the G7 group of leading economies.
Negotiations with Jingye to save the plant broke down earlier, prompting the government to intervene through fast-tracked legislation. Despite offering financial support, Jingye expressed intent on closing the blast furnaces, leading to accusations of neglect or possible sabotage by Reynolds. The Conservatives have criticized the government’s delayed intervention in saving the plant, with shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith acknowledging the emergency law as the “least worst option” available
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