Steelmaking to return to Teesside under plans for electric arc furnace
Steelmaking is to make return to Teesside after plans to build a new furnace at Teesworks were announced .
British Steel has selected Lackenby , Redcar , as the location for a new electric arc furnace , which uses greener technology to melt scrap and produce new steel .
The multi-million pound investment will bring back basic steel production to Teesside . It will link with British Steel ’ s Teesside Beam Mill , at Lackenby and Special Profiles Mill at Skinningrove which process steel for industrial uses .
Hundreds of direct jobs will be created with thousands more in the supply chain and construction .
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen pledged to bring steelmaking back to Teesside ahead of his re-election in 2021 .
Mayor Houchen said : “ As Teessiders , we know that steel is in our blood – and the closure of our steelworks was a historic injustice which needed to be addressed .
“ But with the construction of a new electric arc furnace we will see Teesside restored to its rightful place as a global leader in the steel industry , delivering well-paid jobs and investment for now and future generations .”
The furnace will generate heat from an electric arc between electrodes , in contrast to a blast furnace which uses coke to supply the large amount of energy needed .
A planning application will be submitted to Redcar and Cleveland Council in mid-November , with construction expected to begin in mid-2024 . It is scheduled that the plant will start operating in 2025
The project will be supported by the development of the previously announced 160-bed hotel and shopping complex , which will provide services for workers near the Trunk Road , at Lackenby .
The announcement comes eight years after the closure of Redcar Steelworks following the collapse of steelmaker SSI UK .
The former steelworks is now the site for the largest regeneration project in Europe across its 4,500 acres , and part of the Teesside Freeport .
Teesworks CEO Martin Corney said : “ This announcement is the direct result of a huge amount of hard work - including demolition and land preparation - to deliver a site where investors can move quickly and huge projects can be brought forward , delivering jobs and investment .” info @ teesvalley-ca . gov . uk teesvalley-ca . gov . uk
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