Trade unions and politicians claim alternative plans would help Llanelli’s Trostre plant

A campaign calling for answers over the long-term future of Tata Steel's Llanelli's Trostre tinplate works has been launched.

The ruling Labour group on Llanelli Town Council is urging traders and businesses in the town to support plans put forward by the Community and GMB trade unions for the region, following Tata's proposals for the near-by Port Talbot steelworks.

Concerns have been raised over what the future holds for the Trostre plant in the wake of the announcement for its sister site in Port Talbot.

The Indian-owned steel giant announced in September a £1.25bn investment into Port Talbot steelworks to install electric arc furnaces and shut down the two primary steel-making blast furnaces. As a result, up to 3,000 jobs are at risk, as fewer workers are needed for this sort of operation.

However, the plan has sparked concern in Llanelli over how the shutting down of blast furnaces at Port Talbot could impact work at neighbouring Trostre in the long term, which employs around 650 people and makes tinplate.

Trostre is reliant on steel from Port Talbot and both unions have called the Port Talbot plans as a "bad deal for steel" and put forward alternative plans.

The unions say that currently it is not possible to make substrate for tinplate via electric arc furnaces, and claim it would impact Trostre if the new arcs are installed at Port Talbot.

They said the move would lock the UK into a single technological approach which would be less green than those adopted by other countries.

While no job cuts or closure at Trostre has been announced by Tata, under the unions' plan there would be no risk to Llanelli or compulsory redundancies at the plant.

The unions' alternative plan, would see blast furnace production at Port Talbot continue until the end of its life-cycle in 2032, while one small electric arc furnace and later a second one or an open slag bath furnace are constructed.

Dame Nia Griffith MP said: "The multi-union plan for our steel industry is a credible and responsible alternative to the botched proposals put forward by Tata and the UK Government in September.

"Unlike that proposal, which could be devastating for the dedicated workforce at Trostre and the wider industry across the country, these recommendations from Community and GMB point the way towards the just transition for steel which workers have been calling for."

Llanelli MS Lee Waters also backed the trade union plans and said: "A  longer transition means a fairer transition for an industry that is critical to our net zero future.

"The Welsh Government has been clear and consistent about the need for proper consultation with time for full consideration of the trade union report into alternative options for a successful future in a stronger, greener sector.

"We can choose to make great steel products in Wales in a dynamic, low carbon industry that is built for the future. The workforce and our future generations deserve no less."

Tata has previously said it is considering the union proposals.

Llanelli Labour town council group press spokesman  Shaun Greaney said: "Safeguarding the jobs of those working at Trostre tinplate works, and with the associated contractors, along with the thousands working at Port Talbot has to be absolutely paramount.

"Llanelli cannot afford to see the loss of the Trostre tinplate works, it would be a hammer blow to the town."

Andrew Bragoli, Community union senior representative at the Trostre plant, said the plant needed so-called virgin steel made at blast furnaces, rather than recycled steel made from electric arc furnaces.

"Electric arc furnaces use scrap steel only," he said. "It's not suitable for Trostre."

Mr Bragoli, 61, has worked at the Trostre plant since 1978.

He described how hot, rolled coil from Tata's Port Talbot plant arrived at Trostre and went through a number of processes to convert it into cans for things like soup, powdered baby milk and shaving foam, with a lining of liquid tin or a chrome finish added.

"Trostre is the single largest customer of Port Talbot," he said.

Tata has committed to replacing the blast furnaces at Port Talbot with an electric arc furnace, which would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also result in a lot of job losses.

Mr Bragoli, who is also a Llanelli town councillor, urged Tata and Government to back a different steel decarbonisation plan put forward by Community and the GMB union via consultants called Syndex. Tata has said it will consider the Syndex proposals.

A Tata Steel spokesperson said: “Tata Steel, its employee representatives and the UK and Welsh governments are all committed to transitioning to greener steelmaking in the UK.

“While we recognise the understandable concerns of our many stakeholders, we are confident that we can build a sustainable, low carbon business that continues to support steel communities, and will be at the heart of a future green UK economy.

“Following recent meetings with the UK Steel Committee, we have been engaging in depth with our trades union colleagues and their independent advisors to review and understand the multi-union proposals for transitioning to green steelmaking in the UK.

"Those discussions have been held in good faith and have been open, honest and helpful.

“We remain committed to fulfilling our responsibilities as a responsible and ethical employer to engage with the multi-union committee fully, in advance of, and throughout formal consultations.”