Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the energy required by the new electric arc furnaces in Port Talbot Steel Works will be supplied by renewable energy sources.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Tata steel is making an investment of £1.25 billion, including a UK Government grant worth up to £500 million, in a new Electric Arc Furnace at the Port Talbot Steelworks. The electrification of steelmaking will significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of the site which is currently the UK’s single largest emitter of CO2.
The UK Government does not have a role in Tata Steel’s energy purchasing arrangements, and therefore cannot confirm the relevant energy sources they will choose to use. However, in recent months, renewables became the majority source of electricity generation for the first full quarter across Great Britain’s electricity grid and we are planning to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035, subject to security of supply.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of steel that will be able to be produced from Port Talbot following its conversion to electric arc furnaces.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Tata Steel’s new Electric Arc Furnace will have a production capacity of approximately 3 million tonnes of crude steel per year.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide employment opportunities for the people of Port Talbot following on from proposed changes to the Steel Works.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is providing a grant worth up to £500 million, as part of a wider £1.25 billion investment by Tata Steel. This will not only modernise Port Talbot but protect many jobs at the steelworks for the long term.
We are working with Tata Steel to provide up to £100 million of funding towards the dedicated Transition Board, with membership including representatives of the Welsh Government, to support affected employees and the local economy. Tata has also announced that they will provide a £130 million comprehensive support package for affected employees.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the quantity of coal required to run Port Talbot steel works at full scale operations; and what is the equivalent in electricity usage.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The quantities of coal and equivalent electricity usage at Port Talbot steelworks is commercially sensitive information held by Tata Steel UK. However, HMG understands that coal is used throughout Port Talbot steelworks in various functions to feed the blast furnaces, via the Morfa Coke Ovens (which as announced on 20 March by Tata Steel, are being closed) and Injection Plant.
Coal is an emission dense power source, and the implementation of an electric arc furnace will reduce UK territorial emissions by 1.4%.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the electricity transmission network is sufficient to allow for the replacement of the Port Talbot steel works blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Tata Steel and National Grid have been working closely to ensure the deliverability of a grid connection in line with the project requirements.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they are intending to alleviate and assist with the impact of job losses caused by the closure of Port Talbot Steelworks.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Port Talbot steelworks are not closing. Tata Steel’s £1.25 billion transformation plan will see the UK Government providing a £500 million grant towards the joint investment, to build an Electric Arc Furnace at Port Talbot and ensure steelmaking continues into the future.
We are ensuring support for staff affected by the transition, working with Welsh Government and Tata Steel to provide up to £100 million of funding for a dedicated Transition Board, supporting impacted employees and the local economy. Tata has also announced that they will provide a £130 million comprehensive support package for affected employees.