Materials Processing Institute

Chris McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Materials Processing Institute, the UK’s national innovation centre for steel and metals, said: “The closure of the Scunthorpe coking ovens is irreversible and will impact the national economy, as it produces such products as rails, beams and wire rod that are vital in supporting UK infrastructure and manufacturing.

“This announcement by British Steel and the resulting loss of 260 jobs underlines the urgent need for investment in new green steel technology, a process already well advanced in countries across Europe, the United States, and Canada.

“The UK is in real danger of being left behind in the race to establish a modern, competitive low-emission steel sector as high energy costs are making our own steel industry unsustainable, which makes it less attractive to invest in green steel.

“If the UK fails to act quickly and decisively, then it risks being the only modern, industrial economy without a steel sector and totally reliant on imports.

“Closing these coking ovens is a permanent act. Once allowed to cool down, they cannot be restarted, and must instead be rebuilt.

“They primarily feed the blast furnaces, but also provide gases and fuel for downstream operations, such as rolling mills - meaning this decision will have widespread implications for British Steel and beyond.

“In the North East, its rolling mills at Lackenby and Skinningrove, are dependent on feedstock from Scunthorpe, although I expect British Steel will import coke to keep its operations running.

“However, this closure may well be the thin end of the wedge, opening the door to much greater imports of steel in the future.”

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas 01325 363 436

Photo caption: Chris McDonald, CEO of the Teesside-based Materials Processing Institute

Notes to editors:

Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving global steel and materials organisations that work in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy, and digital technologies.

The Institute has served as the UK’s national steel innovation centre since 1944 having been set up by Sir Winston Churchill’s wartime government just before D-Day to equip the British steel industry for post-war reconstruction. It will celebrate its 80^th anniversary in 2024.

Through collaboration with its customers, the Institute provides a range of technology and R&D based services and consultancy. It also has pilot and demonstration facilities and an SME Technology Centre to support supply chain businesses with the development of new technologies and products.

Works with: steel, metals and alloys, chemical processes, aerospace and defence, energy, mining and quarrying, construction, rail, transport, and infrastructure, offshore, subsea, and nuclear.

The Materials Processing Institute includes developments funded through Tees Valley Combined Authority, through the Local Growth Fund (Growth Deal).