Steel plant redundancies are revealed one year on

IT IS a year since the final blast furnace at Port Talbot was wound down for the final time.

- RUTH MOSALSKI Political editor

> Tata Steelworks, Port Talbot

While the two structures still stand proudly on the skyline, it was a historic day, ending decades of primary steelmaking.

On September 30, 2024, blast furnace four ~ the final one operating at the vast site - was closed, ending 100 years of primary steelmaking and bringing thousands of job losses as the Indian steel giant which owns the site turns to a new way of steelmaking.

The company, with £500m in UK Government funding, is moving to steelmaking via a new electric arc furnace which is due to open by the end of 2027.

Tata announced 2,800 job losses, with most being expected in Port Talbot. A letter from Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans, Rural Affairs Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies and Culture Minister Jack Sargeant, to a Senedd committee on September 18, has spelt out how many people have lost their jobs.