Mon, 14 Apr 2025

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 Supplies to be sent to Scunthorpe to keep blast furnaces going

Coking coal and iron ore from the US will keep the British Steel blast furnaces running for the coming weeks, says the government.

* A delivery of coking coal and iron ore from the US will arrive at Immingham docks on Tuesday, securing the blast furnaces' fuel supply for several weeks.
* The UK government has secured a separate shipment of materials from Australia after resolving a legal dispute with British Steel's owner Jingye.
* The government seized control of British Steel over the weekend due to concerns that its Chinese owner was planning to shut down the furnaces, which would make it difficult and costly to restart them.
* The Scunthorpe plant produces virgin steel, essential for major construction projects such as buildings and railways.
* The government has paid for the materials from the US but the cost is not disclosed.
* Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit Immingham on Tuesday to oversee the unloading of the raw materials.
* The government has appointed two British Steel employees to run the plant on an interim basis, and is exploring options for private investors or nationalisation.
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