Posted on 06 Apr 2023
British Steel has agreed to offer alternative roles to around 250 workers affected by its impending coke plant closure, thereby securing trade unions’ confirmation they will not object to the closure.
The formal consultation process on this matter is now complete, the steelmaker tells Kallanish.
“In the coming months we will press ahead with the closure of the coke ovens and we are pleased to say all employees affected by this decision will be offered alternative roles in the business. We appreciate this has been a difficult time for everyone involved and I’d like to thank our people and the trade unions for their professionalism throughout the consultation process,” says a British Steel spokesperson.
The company’s coke ovens, situated at the integrated steelmaking site in Scunthorpe, are reaching the end of their operational life and their closure will bring environmental benefits including reductions in emissions to air and water, the firm says.
“Jingye has invested £330 million in capital projects at British Steel during its first three years of ownership but we also need the support of the UK Government with whom we remain in talks. We are looking forward to rapidly progressing these discussions as Jingye is committed to transforming our business with planned investments providing the government can give assurances of a competitive landscape for energy and carbon,” the spokesperson continues.
“We are still waiting for the British government to adopt the correct policies and frameworks now to back our drive to become a clean, green and successful company. Governments in the countries where our major competitors operate have adopted such policies and the longer we wait for their implementation in the UK, the more impact this will have on our competitiveness and the country's ability to meet its carbon objectives,” the spokesperson concludes.
Source:Kallanish
