Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is aware of any way of making (a) steel and (b) cement without using coal as a heat source and in the chemical production process; and if he will make a statement.

Steel made via the electric arc furnace process does not require coal, as it melts steel scrap directly in the furnace.

Full replacement of fossil fuels in cement manufacture is technically possible but there are barriers and significant investment would be needed. In 2016 the UK cement industry replaced 39% of its fuel demand with waste derived alternatives. The industry is working with Government to increase this further, through the joint Action Plan for the Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmaps Programme published in October 2017.