Tata close to a deal with unions on the future of Port Talbot steel plant

Tata Steel is close to a deal with unions which will keep the Port Talbot plant in South Wales open until at least 2020, media reports suggest.

Union leaders are expected to put a new rescue plan to members this week which will see could see investment into Port Talbot in return for concessions on staff terms and conditions, The Sunday Times has claimed.

The plan is believed to revolve around the retention of Port Talbot’s two blast furnaces, which turn iron ore and coke into molten iron.

One is due to stop production in 2018 but unions have been fighting to keep it open.

If an agreement is reached with staff, the Tata will look at a partial re-lining of the blast furnace as an upgrade extending life for several years.

According to the Newspaper, sources claim union officials held talks with Tata Steel bosses, including executive director Koushik Chatterjee, on the latest plan last Thursday.

They worked on a deal that would also see money injected into Tata Steel’s other plants around the country, including Shotton, Corby and Llanwern.