Tata Steel has hailed a “significant milestone” in its bid to build a modern facility for recycling scrap steel in Wales.
The ferrous metal giant said it was “very pleased” after gaining approval from local councillors for an electric arc furnace at Port Talbot.
Ministers last year pledged £500 million for the project, which is designed to save thousands of jobs while cutting carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent from traditional steel-making.
Tata Steel UK chief executive Rajesh Nair said of the approval: “Amid a challenging global market, this is a significant milestone for the project.
“We are committed to begin large-scale work on site this summer, ahead of the electric arc furnace starting up from the end of 2027.
“The facility will secure high-quality steel production, preserve thousands of jobs and safeguard steel making in Port Talbot for generations to come.”
The government last week pledged to come up with a Plan for Steel this spring in the wake of a US policy of slapping tariffs on certain incoming metals.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Port Talbot approval was “a major step forward in securing a bright, long-term future for steel in South Wales”.
