It’s been a crucial week for British Steel. With critical materials running out, the fires of the UK steel industry’s last blast furnaces were just days from going out. The UK Government’s decision to step in has ensured supplies, protected the company’s immediate future, and avoided the sudden impact on livelihoods and supply chains that would have come with it.
Jen Carson, Climate Group’s Head of Industry, said:
“Now the immediate threat of an unplanned shutdown has been avoided, the Government needs to double down on working with the industry and its customers to set out the long-term future of the UK steel industry.
We can’t keep jumping from crisis to crisis. We need a clear and full transition plan which will decarbonise the UK steel industry, help it compete in the UK and abroad, and protect jobs long-term. The Steel Strategy expected this spring needs to deliver this.
It must include a tangible plan to move away from blast furnaces, investment in low carbon technologies to allow a clean supply of new and scrap-based steel, and an end to the eye watering cost of the UK’s electricity kept sky-high by natural gas. And it needs to incentivise the use of low emission steel across the public and private sector.
Businesses across the UK, like our SteelZero members, want to support the steel industry. We can change the narrative from one of crisis to opportunity. We can seize the huge potential that green steel opens up for growth in the UK. We can have an industry fit to compete, fit for the future, and fit for its customers. Let’s get on with the job of delivering it.”