Tata Steel closes blast furnace №5 in Port Talbot

Tata Steel UK, the UK’s largest steelmaker, will shut down blast furnace No. 5 at its Port Talbot plant this week as planned. This was reported by S&P Global.

Blast furnace No. 4 will operate until the end of September along with other steel facilities, as the Unite trade union has suspended the planned strike.

Unite had called for a strike on July 8 to protest Tata Steel’s plan to shut down blast furnaces in Port Talbot for the duration of the EAF conversion. In turn, the company said that the shutdown of blast furnace operations at the plant may start earlier than planned if there is no certainty that it can safely and sustainably operate the assets during the strike period.

The union confirmed in a comment to S&P Global that the decision to suspend the strike was made after the company confirmed during negotiations that it was ready to discuss future investments in the UK, not just cuts.

«This is a significant step in the fight to save jobs and the long-term future of the steel industry in South Wales,» said Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite.

Earlier, Tata Steel announced that it will continue to close heavy assets and restructure at its Port Talbot facility despite concerns that the upcoming UK general election could jeopardize its £1.25 billion investment plans. The company called on the current and future governments after the election to honor the agreement and protect the agreed terms of the decarbonization support package.