Tata Steel UK today celebrates a historic milestone in its green transformation journey as Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Steel and the Tata Group, joins government ministers at a groundbreaking event for the company’s state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) facility in Port Talbot.
Credit: Tata Steel UK
EAF building from BOS lagoon
Mr Chandrasekaran will be joined by Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T. V. Narendran and Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair, where they will officially break the ground with spades, marking the official start of construction for the UK’s largest low-carbon steelmaking facility. This is part of a £1.25 billion transformation to low CO2 steelmaking, supported by a £500 million investment from the UK Government.
The new EAF—set to be commissioned at the end of 2027—is expected to reduce Port Talbot’s carbon emissions by approximately 90%, equivalent to 5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, while securing high-quality sustainable steel production and supporting 5,000 UK jobs directly.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Mr Chandrasekaran said: “This is an important day for Tata Group, Tata Steel and for the UK. Today’s groundbreaking marks not just the beginning of a new Electric Arc Furnace, but a new era for sustainable manufacturing in Britain. At Port Talbot, we are building the foundations of a cleaner, greener future, supporting jobs, driving innovation, and demonstrating our commitment to responsible industry leadership. This project is also part of Tata Group’s wider investment in the UK, across steel, automotive, and technology among others, which reflects our deep and enduring partnership with this country.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“This is our Industrial Strategy in action and is great news for Welsh steelmaking backing this crucial Welsh industry, which will give certainty to local communities and thousands of local jobs for years to come.
“This government is committed to a bright future for our steel industry, which is why we provided £500 million of funding to make this project possible. Our modern Industrial Strategy will set out how we’ll back the sector even further to drive growth and create well-paid jobs across the country, as part of our Plan for Change.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:
“The UK Government acted decisively to ensure that steelmaking in Port Talbot will continue for generations to come, backing Tata Steel with £500 million to secure its future in the town, along with £80 million to support workers and the wider community. Our Steel Strategy will also deliver £2.5 billion of investment to rebuild the UK industry, maintain jobs and drive growth.
“The construction of Tata’ s new furnace realises the promise we made to the community, while the development of floating offshore wind, plans for a Celtic Freeport and millions more for local regeneration all mean that Port Talbot has a bright future.”
First Minister Eluned Morgan said:
“This is a momentous day for heavy industry in Wales, as the electric arc furnace has secured the long-term future of steel making at Port Talbot. Seeing spades in the ground today provides a tangible sign of Tata’s intention to continue producing steel in the area, an industry which has provided quality jobs to local people for generations.
“The start of the construction phase is good news for Port Talbot and neighbouring communities, and I’m especially pleased that Tata has committed to employing local contractors and local workers where it can.”
The Port Talbot EAF will be one of the largest in the world, melting UK-sourced scrap steel to produce 3 million tonnes of steel per year. As part of Tata Steel UK’s broader decarbonisation strategy, the project also includes new ladle metallurgy facilities, infrastructure upgrades, and partnerships with leading technology providers such as Tenova, ABB, and Clecim.
Construction is being led by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, alongside a strong regional supply chain that includes Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Mii, Skelton Thomas, Wernick Buildings, Andrew Scott Ltd and Systems Group.
The groundbreaking reaffirms Tata Steel’s commitment to delivering long-term sustainability, strengthening UK industrial resilience, and ensuring Wales remains at the forefront of green steelmaking.