Labour leader Keir Starmer is meeting with employees and union representatives at Port Talbot steelworks today, reiterating Labour‘s commitment to the steel sector.
The Labour Party has promised a plan for “green steel“, including a £3 billion investment via a National Wealth Fund, aiming for nearly emission-free steel production by 2035.
Keir Starmer’s visit to Port Talbot comes on the heels of a recent deal between Tata and the UK government concerning the site’s future.
This deal suggests a shift towards an electric arc furnace (EAF) model, potentially at the cost of 3,000 jobs.
Community, the steelworkers’ union, has criticised this arrangement as shortsighted and calls for a thorough exploration of alternative decarbonisation options for the site.
Community emphasises that a switch to an electric arc-only model would necessitate the import of primary steel from heavily polluting overseas producers, making the industry no longer self-sufficient.
Furthermore, it could lead to the closure of downstream steel sites such as Trostre and Llanwern, which cannot be supplied by EAF.
General Secretary of Community Union, Roy Rickhuss, stated: “Keir’s visit demonstrates Labour’s commitment to our steel industry and an ambitious decarbonisation strategy.”
