Chinese Jingye owned British Steel plans to shut coke ovens at its Scunthorpe plant in northern England, which could impact about 300 jobs in Britain. British Steel said “Decisive action is required because of the unprecedented rise in operating costs, surging inflation and the need to improve environmental performance. The closure of the ovens is part of its drive to build a sustainable future. It will still need to import coke, which will still be produced in coke ovens from coking coal.”

British Steel Chief executive Mr Xifeng Han added “Steelmaking in the UK remains uncompetitive when compared to other international steelmakers. Our energy costs, carbon costs and labor costs are some of the highest across the world.”

Responding to the planned job cuts, British government expressed its disappointment by saying that “It is very disappointing British Steel has chosen to take this step for its employees while our negotiations with the sector are ongoing. We stand ready to support employees impacted and will continue to work with the company to try and find a decarbonized, sustainable and competitive solution for the business and the wider sector, which plays a vital role in the UK economy.”

Unite believes that the proposed job losses are a direct result of the Jingye Group, the Chinese owners of British Steel, and its failure to make good on its commitment to make major investments in the plant and the government’s abject inability to produce a coherent industrial strategy to protect the UK’s steel making capability. Unite General Secretary Ms Sharon Graham said “British Steel workers are faced with the toxic combination of a greedy employer that is reneging on investment promises and a shambolic UK government that has no serious plan for the industry. Unite’s members in British Steel are clear that they will fight this and they will have the full support of their union.”

A high-level task force has been set up to help support workers at British Steel in Scunthorpe. North Lincolnshire Council will work with the local MPs Ms Holly Mumby-Croft and Mr Andrew Percy, the Government and other agencies to help the people who may be affected by today’s news. North Lincolnshire Council leader Mr Rob Waltham said “We are pulling together a task force at pace to work with Government departments and local steel representatives including unions to see how we can support everybody involved.

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