Tata has shut down one of two blast furnaces at Port Talbot steelworks, South Wales as part of restructuring programme.
Tata said that Blast Furnace 5 has been closed which first opened in 1959 to stem the “unsustainable losses as the company is losing over £1 million a day.
The decommissioned blast furnace has closed as Tata will be switching to greener production of an electric arc furnace which has led to large job losses.
Tata Steel UK’s chief executive Rajesh Nair said, “All those who have been involved in operating and maintaining Blast Furnace 5 since it started operations in 1959 should take a great deal of pride in the part they have played in underpinning the UK manufacturing industry for so many years.
“Our challenge is now to focus on a more sustainable and competitive future for our business that will ensure the continuation of steelmaking in the UK for generations to come.”
