{"id":133257,"date":"2023-11-04T03:03:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T03:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/?p=133257"},"modified":"2023-11-04T03:03:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T03:03:25","slug":"rishi-must-save-british-steels-last-blast-furnace-tory-mps-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/world-news\/rishi-must-save-british-steels-last-blast-furnace-tory-mps-warn\/","title":{"rendered":"Rishi must save British Steel's last blast furnace, Tory MPs warn"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rishi Sunak must step in to stop the closure of Britain\u2019s last remaining blast furnace or risk the UK relying on hostile states for high-quality virgin steel, northern Tory MPs have warned.<\/p>\n
British Steel\u2019s Chinese owner Jingye is preparing to cut as many as 2,000 jobs at its Scunthorpe site as part of a switch to greener steel production, which would use electric arc furnaces instead of the current polluting blast furnaces.<\/p>\n
The Government, which recently agreed a \u00a3500million support package for Tata Steel to fund a similar green transition at its Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, has offered the Chinese firm \u00a3300million to do the same.<\/p>\n
But last night the Northern Research Group of Conservative MPs warned that the deal will mean Britain is no longer able to produce \u2018virgin steel\u2019 – and would risk \u2018becoming reliant on hostile foreign states\u2019.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Scunthorpe Tory MP Holly Mumby-Croft wrote: \u2018Steelworkers understand that the steel industry must decarbonise.<\/p>\n
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British Steel\u2019s Chinese owner Jingye is preparing to cut as many as 2,000 jobs at its Scunthorpe site (pictured) as part of a switch to greener steel production<\/p>\n
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The Government, which recently agreed a \u00a3500million support package for Tata Steel to fund a similar green transition at its Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales, has offered the Chinese firm \u00a3300million to do the same. Pictured: Rishi Sunak<\/p>\n
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In a letter to the Prime Minister, Scunthorpe Tory MP Holly Mumby-Croft urged Mr Sunak to look at other greener options, such as carbon capture and hydrogen fuel. Pictured:\u00a0Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer at the Scunthorpe site in June<\/p>\n
\u2018However, the transition must take place in a way that maintains the UK\u2019s sovereign capabilities and jobs in steel communities.<\/p>\n
\u2018Blast furnaces must remain an integral part of the modernisation of our nation\u2019s steel industry.\u2019<\/p>\n
She urged Mr Sunak to look at other greener options, such as carbon capture and hydrogen fuel, \u2018before any final and irreversible decision to decommission Britain\u2019s blast furnaces is taken, rendering us – for the first time in living memory – unable to make steel from raw materials\u2019.<\/p>\n
Northern Research Group chairman John Stevenson added: \u2018Manufacturing has historically been the lifeblood of the North\u2019s economy and it is vitally important we preserve the ability to make virgin steel in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
\u2018With the reports that the blast furnaces in Port Talbot closing, the Scunthorpe plant will be the only plant in the United Kingdom to produce steel from the raw material.<\/p>\n
\u2018Whilst we still strongly support the idea to decarbonise our manufacturing industry, there will always still be a role for virgin steel and therefore, this capacity must be kept and it must be kept in Scunthorpe.\u2019<\/p>\n
A British Steel spokesman said: \u2018While decarbonisation is a major challenge for our business, we\u2019re committed to transforming British Steel into a green and sustainable company providing long-term, skilled and well-paid careers for thousands of employees and many more in our supply chains.<\/p>\n
\u2018As part of our journey to net zero, it is prudent to evaluate different operational scenarios to help us achieve our ambitious goals and we are continuing to assess our options.\u2019<\/p>\n
A spokesman at the Department for Business and Trade said: \u2018Ultimately, it is for British Steel to manage commercial decisions for the future of the company, and we cannot comment on ongoing commercial negotiations.\u2019<\/p>\n