Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is pushing ahead with efforts to safeguard British Steel, with a visit to Immingham today to oversee the unloading of crucial raw materials.
The materials, which have arrived from the US, will be transported to the steelworks site after the government settled payment for them.
These supplies are sufficient to keep the Blast Furnaces operational for the coming weeks. Officials are working urgently to establish a steady pipeline of materials to maintain production.
A separate shipment containing more coking coal and iron ore is now en route to the UK from Australia. This cargo was previously the subject of a legal dispute between British Steel and Jingye that has now been resolved.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds
PA
The materials have been paid for using existing Department for Business and Trade budgets. New legislation passed last weekend gives the Government unprecedented powers to direct British Steel's board and workforce.
The emergency measures ensure workers get paid and allow the ordering of raw materials to keep the blast furnaces running. The legislation also permits the Government to take these actions itself if necessary.
This decisive intervention aims to protect 37,000 jobs in supply chains across the country.
It will also ensure Britain can build the infrastructure needed to deliver growth, which the government describes as fundamental to its Plan for Change.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON BRITISH STEEL CRISIS
British Steel in ScunthorpeGB NEWSAfter intensive work over the weekend, the government has secured coke and iron ore pellets for the blast furnaces. Officials are now confident there will be enough materials to keep the furnaces burning and production continuing.
The government's intervention comes after parliament was recalled on Saturday April 12 to discuss the future of British Steel.
On Monday, Reynolds confirmed the appointment of Allan Bell as interim Chief Executive Officer of British Steel. Lisa Coulson was also appointed as interim Chief Commercial Officer, with both roles effective immediately.
These appointments ensure the right expertise is in place to keep the site running smoothly during this critical period.
Reynolds said: "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."
He added: "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 political response to the British Steel situation has been mixed, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage making serious allegations about the previous owners.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
PA
The Clacton MP told the BBC that the Chinese Communist Party had "deliberately sabotaged" British Steel.
When asked for evidence, he said: "You can call it intuition if you like. I am 100% certain they bought British Steel to close British Steel."
Meanwhile, Green MP Ellie Chowns has backed nationalisation of the company.
"The Green party will be backing nationalisation of British Steel which is now clearly the only sure way to secure this strategically important sector," she said.
The Herefordshire North MP added that public ownership could help drive a "green industrial revolution" by supporting the transition from blast furnaces to electric arcs, which she described as "cheaper and far better for the environment to run."
