Hartlepool Tata steel plant's £2m turbine boost

The company will supply tubular sections used in wind turbines' foundations

A steel plant on Teesside has been given a £2m investment boost, to meet demand from renewable energy firms.

Tata's investment in its Hartlepool tube works will establish a central supply base for tubular sections used in the construction of wind turbines.

The move will result in more than 20 jobs being protected at the plant over the coming year.

The company said it would be modifying buildings and investing in new assets at Hartlepool.

Ramsay Ross of Tata Steel said: "This investment reinforces Tata Steel's commitment to establishing a significant presence as a supplier to the renewables sector as the drive to transform the energy supply scene in the EU gathers pace.

"The wind tower hub in Scunthorpe, which was launched last year to process and distribute steel plate for fabricators, was a key step in this strategy.

"This separate development, in which we will be modifying buildings and investing in new assets at Hartlepool, is the next stage."