British Steel to Consult on Scunthorpe Blast Furnace Closures, Threatening 2,700 Jobs

The company’s Chinese owner, Jingye Group, rejected a £500m UK government aid package, leaving the future of the UK’s last primary steelmaking facility uncertain.

British Steel has announced consultations on the potential closure of its Scunthorpe blast furnaces, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk.
Jingye Group, the Chinese owner of British Steel, rejected a £500m government offer, stating it falls short of the over £1bn needed for a transition to greener steelmaking.
The closures would mark the end of primary steelmaking in the UK, raising national security and economic concerns during a period of geopolitical instability.
Unions have criticized the decision, urging the UK government and Jingye to resume negotiations to secure the future of the Scunthorpe site and protect jobs.
British Steel cites daily financial losses of £700,000, challenging market conditions, tariffs, and environmental costs as key factors behind the decision.