Summary

  • British Steel is to close down its blast furnace in Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,000 jobs at risk

  • The Chinese-owned business wants to replace it with two electric arc furnaces that run on zero-carbon electricity

  • The furnaces would be in Scunthorpe and Teesside and hope to be built by late 2025

  • Electric furnaces recycle scrap steel and are greener but are run with a much smaller workforce

  • Unions have criticised the move which they predict could lead to between 1,500-2,000 job losses, most at Scunthorpe

  • Concerns have also been voiced that the closure would leave the UK without the ability to produce its own steel

  • In February, British Steel announced plans to close the coke ovens at Scunthorpe, with the loss of up to 260 jobs

Live Reporting

Stuart Harratt

  1. British Steel jobs at risk in plan to shut furnaces

    Simon Jack
    Business editor

    British Steel plans to close down its blast furnaces in Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,000 jobs at risk.

    Scunthorpe SteelworksGetty Images

    The business, owned by China's Jingye Group, wants to replace them with two electric arc furnaces - one at Scunthorpe and another at Teesside.

    The construction is expected to take between two and three years.

    British Steel said it aimed to transform the firm into a "green and sustainable company" and had to look at different scenarios to help it do this.

    Unions estimate the shift could ultimately lead to the loss of 1,500 to 2,000 jobs, predominantly at Scunthorpe.

  2. Good morning

    Stuart Harratt
    BBC News

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage after it was revealed that British Steel is planning to shut the blast furnace in Scunthorpe, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

    We will be bringing you all the latest reaction and analysis as the story develops throughout the day.