Economy Minister visits Tata Shotton steelworks

Community @communityunionAugust 18, 2021

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, today visited Shotton Works in Deeside, North Wales. Shotton Works manufactures approximately 500,000 tonnes of metallic coated and pre-finished steel per year for building envelope, domestic and consumer applications.

Alun Davies, National Secretary at Community says:

“We were pleased to have Vaughan Gething join us in Deeside today, to meet the team at Shotton Works and learn how the steel industry can be at the centre of our national march to net-zero. We believe there is a way to decarbonise and make our steel industry green, where we protect jobs, avoid redundancies and create employment in areas that desperately need it. Shotton Works, with their focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and more efficient usage of water and waste management, is a prime example of how this can be done.”

Shotton is covered by a new energy efficiency governance process established within Tata Steel Europe. This includes targeted reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, reduction in water consumption and eliminating waste to landfills. The Shotton site has also developed strong links with the local community, including partnerships promoting STEM in local schools and colleges and an employee scheme to donate to local good causes.

Vaughan Gething, Minister for the Economy, said:

“I was really pleased to visit the team at TATA’s Shotton Works in Deeside today.

The steel industry in Wales has a long history and a proud place in our nation’s industrial landscape. It remains vitally important to our economy, and will be part of our economic recovery. The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring Welsh steel has a strong and sustainable future.

As we emerge from the Covid crisis, our next big challenges are to secure Wales’ economic recovery, and to tackle the climate crisis. My focus will be on helping Wales-based steel companies to transition to a low carbon future.”