The latest episode of SteelCast, the official Tata Steel UK podcast, captures a historic milestone in the transformation of the UK steel industry.
Construction has officially begun on a new £1.25 billion Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) at Port Talbot steelworks – the centrepiece of Tata Steel UK’s green steelmaking programme.
Episode 39 follows the day of the ground-breaking ceremony, marking the start of work to implement electric arc furnace steelmaking technology. This process, which melts recycled steel scrap to make new steel, will cut the site’s carbon emissions by up to 90%, representing a pivotal step in the UK steel industry’s journey towards decarbonisation.
The event was attended by Tata Sons and Tata Steel Chairman Mr N. Chandrasekaran and Tata Steel CEO & MD Mr T.V. Narendran.
Speaking during the podcast, Mr Chandrasekaran said: “There have been difficult moments, but this is a time to look to the future with optimism… We are one single team working together to make this happen.”
He added: “It’s important we get this project right, and I am personally very committed to making this happen.”
“This transformation is a new start, a historic moment.”
The episode features voices from across the transformation programme — from Tata Steel UK’s project managers and on-the-ground teams to key contractors, suppliers and partners including Tenova, Skanska, ABB, Clecim and Sir Robert McAlpine.
Together, they reflected on the scale, ambition and collaboration driving the project.
“We’re building the future,” said Steve Winkley, ABB Sales Manager.
“There’s no two ways about it — we have to work as one team.”
With personal reflections and tangible progress already well underway, the episode captures a defining moment in Tata Steel UK’s journey towards green steelmaking.
Listen to SteelCast Episode 39 now on all major podcast platforms - or watch on YouTube.
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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