Four massive and ambitious projects are our focus as we radically overhaul Port Talbot to prepare for a new era of low emission steelmaking. There are two new sets of assets and two upgrades. Here’s an introduction to each which will give you an idea not only of the scale of the work, but the benefits they will bring.
1. EAF Meltshop – new
The majority of the £1.25bn investment will be spent on a large electric arc furnace (EAF). An EAF melts scrap steel using a powerful electric arc generated between electrodes and the raw materials. Our EAF will be one of the world’s biggest, and will be capable of making 3.2 million tonnes of steel – similar to our most recent output from Port Talbot. Two new ladle metallurgy furnaces will allow extended treatment times in secondary metallurgy, enabling more complex steel grades to be produced. Once operational, the EAF is expected to reduce Port Talbot’s carbon emissions by approximately 90%, equivalent to five million tonnes of CO₂ per year. EAF steel can be used in construction, automotive, household appliances, heavy vehicles, packaging and much more.
2. Casters – upgrade
We are refurbishing two of the casters which transform molten steel – produced at more than 1,600 degrees Celsius – is solidified into slabs, ready for further processing. The work will include the replacement of over 1.5 miles of key pipework and two giant water tanks. This project will ensure our existing casters are in the very best condition to handle steel from our new electric arc furnace in the volumes and qualities demanded by our customers.
3. Hot strip mill – upgrade
At the hot strip mill, where hot slabs of steel are transformed into hot-rolled coil, we are working to improve yield performance and productivity. We’re making structural repairs and installing new drives, but the largest part of the investment will be a new coil box and crop shear, which will offer improved reliability, allowing optimum production. As well as faster operation, the upgraded mill will have greater capability in a wider product range – helping us to meet future market needs.
4. Pickle line – new
The new 1.8 million-tonne capacity line will process hot rolled coils to eliminate the oxide scale that forms during the steel rolling process. The scale removal is done both mechanically and chemically, by dipping the strip into hydrochloric acid. Once the scale is removed, the steel can be further processed to give it the surface and mechanical properties our customers require. The clean surface aids further downstream processes such as galvanising and painting, improving product quality, and enhancing the bonding of coatings or finishes. You can read some more details here to see how it will improve our capacity, reliability, efficiency and meet high sustainability standards.