In a bid to keep the blast furnaces at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant alight, a shipment of vital supplies is en route from the United States. The Department for Business and Trade has revealed these materials are sufficient to keep the furnaces operational for weeks, and have been procured from the department’s existing budget. This move follows the Government’s emergency intervention last Saturday, where both the Commons and Lords discussed legislation to prevent a potential shutdown of the blast furnaces. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who is scheduled to visit the site, stated that the government would always act in the best interest of UK industry and its workers. He applauded the efforts of those at British Steel and his department, for their swift action in securing the key raw materials needed to sustain British Steel. Mr Reynolds emphasised the crucial role UK steel plays in our industries, predicting a surge in demand bolstered by the government’s Plan for Change. This, he said, would help in the construction of 1.5 million homes, railways, schools, and hospitals, paving the way for a decade of national renewal. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, during her recent visit to Scunthorpe, confirmed the site’s critical importance to the UK steel industry. She expressed confidence in the continued operation of the furnaces, thanks to the paid-for raw materials. The need for these supplies stems from the risk of the blast furnaces cooling, which could potentially cause irreversible damage to the plant’s systems.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
