Terry Walsh, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, has welcomed the Government’s confirmation of a £500 million grant to Tata Steel to support the construction of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) at Port Talbot, South Wales.
This investment will facilitate steel production using electricity to melt scrap metal feedstock, a process significantly greener and more energy-efficient than traditional blast furnace methods. The latter rely on iron ore and coke, which emit higher levels of greenhouse gases.
The £1.25 billion project is expected to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions by approximately 1.5%, substantially contributing to the nation’s decarbonisation goals. This initiative follows an agreement between Tata Steel and the previous Government last September to replace the two blast furnaces at Port Talbot with an EAF.
Mr Walsh commented:
“I welcome the Government’s confirmation of the £500 million grant to support Tata Steel in constructing an EAF in Port Talbot. This is a significant step toward preserving the future of steelmaking in South Wales and is vital for the development of a sustainable, low-carbon steel industry in the UK.
“This investment signals a broader commitment to decarbonising steel production and reducing the country’s reliance on traditional blast furnace methods as well as on imported steel. I’m also encouraged by Tata Steel's expected plans to complement the EAF with further investment in wind turbines that will generate the renewable electricity required to produce truly green steel."
Mr Walsh also noted that the project aligns with British Steel’s plans to establish two new EAFs in Scunthorpe and Teesside.
He added:
“The Materials Processing Institute is proud to have played a role in advancing this technology through our pilot EAF facility, which has led the development and testing of new production processes. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with industry partners to share our knowledge and expertise, supporting the transition to a more sustainable steel industry.”