British Steel furnaces to remain open beyond 2024

British Steel said blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe site would remain open into the new year

British Steel has confirmed its blast furnaces will continue to operate beyond 2024.

It was previously reported the furnaces could shut before Christmas, with workers at the Scunthorpe plant quitting amid uncertainty.

The blast furnaces have been earmarked for closure since 2023, amid a planned switch to more energy efficient electric arc furnaces.

However, a spokesperson for British Steel said: "We recently purchased raw materials that will see our operations continue to run into the new year."

A government spokesperson confirmed earlier the Department for Business and Trade was in discussion with British Steel's owner, Jingye, about "a secure green steel transition", stating £2.5bn of investment was earmarked for supporting the UK's steel industry.

The spokesperson said: "This government will simply not allow the end of steel making in the UK."

Conversations continue

British Steel's spokesperson said the company "remain in active discussions with government" to ensure the company "continues to play a vital role in meeting the UK's infrastructure needs".

Electric arc furnaces work by funnelling a current through electrodes into the furnace, a process which is less energy-intensive than blast furnace production, and takes out the need for high carbon-emitting coke to be used in the process.

The previous government said replacing blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces could "reduce UK’s entire carbon emissions by around 1.5%".

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