18 September 2025
Corporate News

Action Needed on High Energy Costs

Electricity

A new report from UK Steel shows that UK steelmakers are still paying up to 25% more for electricity than competitors in France and Germany — adding £26 million in extra costs each year.

This comes despite recent UK Government steps to reduce industrial power prices.  

Britain’s steelmakers are still paying millions more for electricity than our European competitors.

As Tata Steel UK and the steel industry moves towards electric arc furnaces, which use a lot of electricity, fair energy prices are now more important than ever.

UK Steel is recommending two key changes to resolve the issue:

  • Introduce two-way Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for wholesale electricity, aligning UK industrial power prices with those in France and Germany.
  • Ensure the uplift to 90% compensation for network charges is backdated to April 2025, avoiding another year of excessive costs for UK producers.
     

Commenting Gareth Stace, Director-General of UK Steel, said:
"The Government has already taken steps to tackle uncompetitive industrial power prices, which have been greatly welcomed by the industry. However, our report shows that Britain’s steelmakers are still paying millions more for electricity than our European competitors.

"The UK steel industry has a hand tied behind its back as it faces electricity prices up to 25% higher than its European competitors, let alone its global counterparts. Uncompetitive power prices pose a threat to jobs, future investment, and our Net Zero ambitions. Our report shows there is now a straightforward solution with a two-way CfD mechanism and swift backdating of network charge relief, the Government can finally eliminate the disparity in industrial electricity prices.

“The prize is enormous. By securing competitive power prices, the UK can build a modern, low-carbon steel industry that underpins growth in clean energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing for decades to come.”

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE: Industrial Electricity Prices – Barrier to growth and competitiveness

More information about the range of Tata Steel's policy asks of government can be found here: tata-steel-uk-briefing---challenges-and-opportunies-for-decarbonising,-june-2025.pdf

 

Electricity
Price disparity
Gareth Stace, UK Steel

About Tata Steel UK

  • The Tata Steel Group has been named one of the most ethical companies in the world, and is among the top producing global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes. 
    Tata Steel in the UK has the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030.
  • In October 2024, Tata Steel ceased ironmaking at its Port Talbot site and temporarily paused steelmaking pending the construction of a 3.2Mtpa Electric Arc Furnace, due to be commissioned late in 2027 / early 2028. For that period, the business will import slab and hot rolled coil to support manufacturing and distribution operations at sites across Wales, England and Northern Ireland as well as Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and UAE. It also benefits from a network of sales offices around the world.
  • Throughout 2024 Tata Steel UK has been undergoing a restructuring that will reduce the size of its workforce to around 5000 direct employees, supplying high-quality steel products to demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering.
  • Tata Steel Group is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and a commercial presence across the world.
  • The group recorded a consolidated turnover of around US$26 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2025.
     

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