It is looking as if Port Talbot can be sold.
In the deal it would convert from Blast furnace / Boss production to arc furnaces melting scrap.
There would still likely be job losses but in reduced numbers, staff can be retrained at the buyers Newport plant..Alpha Steel.
It is looking as if Politicians are assisting as a third party and forms of grants/loans are possible.
I sincerely hope it goes ahead.
To simply stick to market forces blindly is not good.
I agree with auster re a strategic view of the industry and help to maintain it. Nationalisation? No.
That has too many interfering political decisions overriding commercial ones within the strategic scenario.
Doing away with the blast furnaces and BOS plant is doing away with steel making. What will be left with arc furnaces is nothing other than recycling steel. Don't get me wrong, it is much better than a shutdown, but we should be fighting for full steel making capability to be retained.
As far as Nationalisation is concerned I find it strange that the same people that decry Nationalisation for industry are fighting hard to keep the NHS from privatisation.
Peter
