Tata Steel proposes Rs.130 mn support package amid UK transition plan

As part of this plan, the company intends to close both high-emission blast furnaces and coke ovens gradually in 2024. It will shift to electric arc furnace (EAF)-based steel-making, incurring a cost of around Rs.1.25 billion, with ?500 million in support from the UK government, as detailed by Chatterjee in an earnings call.

Acknowledging the impact on individuals and the local community associated with the steelworks, Chatterjee emphasised Tata Steel's commitment to meaningful consultation with employees, aiming for a fair, dignified, and considerate outcome. The company is proposing to allocate over Rs.130 million for a comprehensive support package for affected employees, in addition to the Rs.100 million funding for the Transition Board, where Tata Steel has contributed ?20 million.

Tata Steel CEO & MD TV Narendran expressed the difficulty of the situation, noting the company's efforts over the past 15 years to support its UK business. He emphasised that the current approach is no longer sustainable. The first blast furnace is slated to close by mid-this year, with the second furnace planned for shutdown in the second half of 2024.

The transition to EAF-based steel-making is expected to result in a reduction of 50 million tons of CO2 emissions over a decade, according to Narendran. Tata Steel, headquartered in India, owns the UK's largest steelworks at Port Talbot in South Wales and employs approximately 8,000 people across all its operations in the country.