A major milestone has been reached for Tata Steel UK as it has moves toward low-carbon steelmaking, with the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30 per cent of its CO2 emissions by 2030.

The company has broken ground on a pickle line at its Port Talbot site, a major component of its £1.25bn investment in renewing the Welsh plant. A pickle line cleans and prepares hot rolled steel before it moves into cold rolling and coating, and most operations rely on it.

The Port Talbot site will be one of the largest in the world, melting UK-sourced scrap steel to produce 3 million tonnes of steel per year. As part of Tata Steel UK’s broader decarbonisation strategy, the project also includes new ladle metallurgy facilities, infrastructure upgrades, and partnerships with leading technology providers such as Tenova, ABB, and Clecim.

Mills programme manager Andrew McGregor noted: “This is a momentous day. It ensures we have the tools in place for a strong, sustainable business, not just today, but for generations to come.”

The groundbreaking reaffirms Tata Steel’s commitment to delivering long-term sustainability, and ensuring Wales remains at the forefront of green steelmaking. Last year, Tata Steel ceased ironmaking at its Port Talbot site and temporarily paused steelmaking pending the construction of a 3.2Mtpa Electric Arc Furnace, due to be commissioned late in 2027.

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