The scramble to save British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant is in full swing, as the government and local team work relentlessly to ensure the furnace’s flames don’t go out. The business secretary validated the urgent efforts in a recent statement, highlighting the race against time to procure the vital coking coal and iron ore required to fuel the plant’s twin furnaces. The plant’s previous owners, Jingye, had reportedly been selling off these essential materials. Parliament hurriedly enacted emergency legislation on Saturday, granting the government control over the Lincolnshire site, thereby preventing its Chinese owner from closing it. The focus now is to deliver the necessary raw materials promptly, since any significant drop in the furnace’s temperature can cause irreversible damage. Several businesses, including steel producers Tata and Rainham Steel, have pledged their support by offering to supply raw materials. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds remains optimistic about the future of steelmaking in the UK, despite refusing to confirm on Sunday whether the government could obtain the materials in a timely fashion. The Scunthorpe plant, which employs 2,700 people, is the UK’s last virgin steel-producing site. Without it, the UK would be the only G7 member without the capacity to produce virgin steel, posing a significant risk to the nation’s economic security. The government seized control of the plant after talks with Jingye to save it fell through. The company, which reported a daily loss of £700,000 at the site, had begun consultations on closure. Jingye rejected a £500m offer from the government, demanding more than double the amount with minimal assurance to keep the plant operational. The government’s handling of the situation has drawn criticism from the Conservatives for not intervening sooner.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
