Tata Steel Europe Declares Restart of Port Talbot Blast Furnace After Major Upgrade

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Tata Steel announced restart of furnace at Port Talbot site after successful completion of a major project to extend its operational life. The company had spent tens of millions of pounds to upgrade the giant Furnace 5, in return for planned long-term strategy to boost its steelmaking operations in the U.K. It was the biggest single investment by Tata Steel in its European operations in over five years.

The project was announced in June last year. The company had drained the furnace in the month of September 2018 for significant upgrades aimed at extending the life of the furnace by additional five to seven years. The project involved replacement of part of the heat resistant interior and vital structural parts. It also replaced the waste gas and dust extraction system. The furnace was brought back to life by injecting air at extremely high temperatures by opening the hot blast main.

Hans Fischer, Chief Executive of Tata Steel’s European operations said that the project demonstrates the company’s commitment to stronger and more sustainable steel business in the U.K., now and in the forthcoming future. Port Talbot offers possibilities to stay strong as U.K.’s key integrated site for strip steel products, mainly serving the automobile and construction industries. Meantime, Fischer also welcomed the Brexit deal, saying that it offers the potential for frictionless trade.

The Port Talbot site was visited by Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales.