British Steel’s blast furnaces in Scunthorpe will continue operating into the New Year. Following reports in August that the furnaces might close this year, British Steel spokesperson has confirmed that they will remain open through 2024. An early closure would have impacted over 2,000 employees.
British Steel has acquired the necessary raw materials to keep the furnaces running into the New Year. The company also has planning approval to construct an electric arc furnace (EAF) at the Scunthorpe site, intended to replace the blast furnaces, which will also reduce the number of jobs.
As per Reports, A British Steel spokesperson has confirmed that the blast furnaces will run beyond the end of 2024, saying: “As part of our ongoing commitment to securing a long-term sustainable future for British Steel in Scunthorpe, we recently purchased raw materials that will see our operations continue to run into the new year.”
The Independent had reported in late August that British Steel may move forward with the closure of its blast furnaces this year and had ordered the last coke coal supplies for the furnaces. British Steel had said that “no final decision” had been made about bringing forward the closure of the blast furnaces.
The government officials commented, “That’s why we’ve committed up to £2.5 billion of investment to rebuild the UK steel industry and support communities now and for generations to come. We’re working across government in partnership with trade unions and businesses, including British Steel, to secure a green steel transition that’s right for the workforce, represents a good investment for taxpayers, and safeguards the future of the steel industry in Britain.”
BBC has reported that the previous Government said replacing blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces could “reduce the UK’s entire carbon emissions by around 1.5%”.
The Government had reached a renewed deal in September with Tata Steel to provide £500m support for its Port Talbot steelworks as it transitions to an EAF there, restructuring the Steel Industry consistently.