This week has seen yet more bad news for the UK economy, with unemployment expected to rise further over the coming months. So the news that steelmaking is returning to the North East after a two year absence has been welcomed both locally and nationally.
On Sunday, the blast furnace at Redcar’s former Corus plant commercial property was relit in a ceremony that brought cheers from the assembled workers. The area has been associated with steelmaking for over a century and a half, but it seemed it was the end of an era when the plant closed in 2010 with the loss of over 2,000 jobs.
Sunday’s event has been made possible by the acquisition of the Redcar industrial property by Thai company Sahaviriya Steel Industries, who will now run the plant under the name of SSI UK. This has created 1,700 jobs, including those for many workers who had previously worked at the commercial property. It is expected that this will rise in order to meet the target of producing 3.6 million tonnes of steel for export to South East Asia by the end of the year.
SSI UK’s chief executive Phil Dryden believes the future is bright for North Yorkshire and the company. He said; “We now look forward with confidence to resuming the long tradition of steelmaking on Teeside and establishing SSI UK as a world class steelmaker.”
The news has also been warmly welcomed by Business Secretary Vince Cable, who described the reopening of the Redcar plant as “great news” for the area.
Touchingly, the furnace, which is as tall as St Paul’s Cathedral, was relit by 11 year old Wills Waterfield, whose late father Geoff had done so much to ensure the industrial commercial property was brought back to life. The union leader was responsible for launching the Save Our Steel campaign which first brought the plant to the attention of SSI president Win Viriyaprapaikit.
Phil Dryden paid tribute to Mr Waterfield, saying; “We thought it was very fitting that Wills came along with his mum to finish the job Geoff began when he started the Save Our Steel Campaign.”
In keeping with steelmaking tradition, the relighting was carried out using a gas lance lit by the embers of another blast furnace.
The relighting ceremony was an emotional moment for many of the former workers who have struggled to find employment. Dave Johnson, who has returned to the commercial property as a general manager, was in charge of the nightshift when the furnace was blown out two years ago and he never expected to see this day. He said; “I thought that was it. I sat on the car park and cried.”
SSI has now pledged significant investment into the plant, which is very good news for Redcar and commercial properties in the area which have suffered since the original factory closed. President Mr Win was always confident of the outcome. He said; “There was never a doubt. We believe in our people and we believe in Teeside. We have always known it would be a success.”
