Tata Steel UK Seeks Level Playing Field in Bid for Government Subsidies to Decarbonize Port Talbot Steelworks

European competitors are reportedly receiving billions of pounds in help to transition to greener operations.

Tata has committed to transforming the site and reducing emissions, and has asked for a level playing field with competitive grounds on support for investment and a competitive landscape on energy costs.

The company is considering the reported £300m offered by the UK government, which would be used for decarbonization.

Steel is currently responsible for 14% of the climate-warming gases produced by UK industry, and the steelworks in Port Talbot is considered a strategic asset.

The mission to decarbonize is common across the steel industry, and new technologies are being developed to bring down emissions.

Steelmakers in the UK are calling for government subsidies to help them reduce emissions, following the announcement that two blast furnaces will be turned off.

The closure of the furnaces would have the equivalent impact on emissions as removing 2.4 million petrol cars from the roads.

However, the long-term impact on jobs in the industry is uncertain, with some jobs being lost but others potentially created.

The UK government has committed to securing a decarbonized and competitive future for the steel industry, but cannot comment on commercially sensitive negotiations.