The UK Government is pressing ahead with urgent measures to secure the future of British Steel, as Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds travels to Immingham today to oversee the unloading and delivery of critical raw materials.
The raw materials, which have arrived from the United States, will be transported to British Steel’s site, and the blast furnaces are expected to keep running for the coming weeks.
This intervention follows a decisive government move to settle payment for the materials, ensuring that operations can continue while a longer-term supply strategy is established.
Raw material deliveries resume
The shipment of raw materials from the US includes enough essential materials to sustain production while officials continue working around the clock to establish a consistent and reliable supply chain.
A second vessel, currently en route from Australia, carries further coking coal—vital for the steelmaking process.
That Australian cargo was at the centre of a legal dispute over the weekend between British Steel and its parent company, Jingye. However, this has now been resolved.
Payments for the materials have been made using the existing Department for Business and Trade (DBT) budget.
After intensive work over the weekend, the government has secured coke and iron ore pellets for the blast furnaces and is confident there will be enough materials to keep the furnaces burning.
Unprecedented legislation to secure the future of British Steel
In a historic move, new legislation passed over the weekend gives the government unprecedented powers to intervene directly in British Steel’s operations.
The law allows ministers to direct the company’s board, ensure staff are paid, and order critical raw materials needed to keep furnaces active.
If required, the government can now step in to carry out these actions.
This emergency legislation is aimed at protecting up to 37,000 jobs across the steel supply chain and supports the broader national infrastructure goals outlined in the government’s Plan for Change.
Leadership appointments for stability
To support continued operations and provide expert leadership during this critical period, the government has appointed Allan Bell as interim Chief Executive Officer and Lisa Coulson as interim Chief Commercial Officer. Both appointments are effective immediately.
These leadership changes are designed to provide stability, direction, and industry expertise while the government works closely with stakeholders to stabilise British Steel and maintain production.
Commitment to British industry
Speaking on Monday, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasised the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting UK industry and protecting jobs.
“We will always act in the interest of working people and UK industry. Thanks to the work of those at British Steel and in my department, we have moved decisively to secure the raw materials we need to help save British Steel.”
Reynolds highlighted the critical role steel plays in national development: “Our industries depend on UK steel and – thanks to our Plan for Change – demand is set to shoot up: helping build the 1.5 million homes, railways, schools and hospitals we need to usher in a decade of national renewal.”
The government’s actions mark a significant intervention to stabilise the UK’s steelmaking capability, demonstrating its readiness to safeguard key national industries during periods of uncertainty.
