“It’s been great to see the project in action,” he said. “It's all about transitioning this plant from the old way of making steel to a new way, which is an electric arc furnace that will produce three million tonnes of steel every year.”

“This project is ramping up. It’s very, very serious in terms of how much progress has already been made.” Kinnock

Standing alongside the construction teams, Mr Kinnock highlighted the immense scale of work already underway. “You just look around at the scale of what’s happening here — it is mind blowing,” he said. “I’ve been able to see some of the early work: the pile‑driving, the preparations, the lagoon being filled with 200,000 tonnes of stone. This project is ramping up. It’s very, very serious in terms of how much progress has already been made.”

He also emphasised the significant local employment being generated: “The senior project team from Sir Robert McAlpine told me the vast majority of the men and women working on this project are local people.”

“I’m talking to ministers daily” (on stronger trade defence measures)

Mr Kinnock noted that many former heavy‑end steelworkers have already moved across to the project. “It’s great that we’re creating new opportunities,” he said.

“Yes, transformational change is difficult. But this project shows that Port Talbot has a bright future.”

During his visit, Mr Kinnock also reiterated the need for stronger trade defence measures: “Millions of tonnes of steel are being dumped on global markets by China. We need to be tougher. I’m talking with ministers daily on this, and I’m hopeful we’ll see positive developments soon.”

“Get trade defence right, get the long‑term steel strategy right — and we can build a better future for our steel industry.”

 WATCH HERE