Dalzell steelworks in Motherwell to reopen

Nicola Sturgeon is to reopen Dalzell steelworks today, after it was mothballed in 2015.

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is today (28 September), formally reopening Scotland’s last major steelworks, Dalzell in Motherwell, calling its revival a “very positive signal”, saying “engineering industries still have a future here in Scotland”.

The steelworks were closed last winter, with the loss of 225 jobs after Tata Steel announced it was cutting a total of 1,200 jobs at its plants in Scunthorpe, Motherwell, and Clydebridge in Cambuslang. Dakzell was then rescued by Liberty House in April amid the industry-wide crisis.

Liberty house has since taken on 120 members of staff, and many of them are former employees. There are plans to increase employment to 200 over the next 18 months “as production risings in response to market demand”.

The firm has spent the last five months preparing to activate the huge furnace and steel plate rolling mill, saying the plant has already secured a significant number of orders for plate, particularly in the construction and energy sectors. The plant announced earlier this year that it will make steel plates for wind turbine towers.

Liberty aims to produce 150,000 tonnes of plate a year at Dalzell, with hopes of building up to previous levels of output depending on the market.

Executive Chairman of Liberty House Group, Sanjeev Gupta said: “There is an impressive spirit of partnership here and a determination to give the Scottish steel industry a real future. From our side we promised we would get this important plant open again by the autumn and today we are proud to be fulfilling that promise.”

He added that the neighbouring Clydebridge works would come back on stream “in due course as market conditions allowed”.

Paul Kelly, who represents the Motherwell West ward for Labour, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “I think the local community is delighted by the news that Liberty House has taken over the steel plant and has big plans for the future.

“It’s been at the heart of our community for over 140 years, it’s dominated the skyline and it’s an integral part of what we’re about as a local community.

“So the feeling really is one of optimism as we look to the future and how we can make sure this works out and creates employment opportunities.”

 

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here

The post Dalzell steelworks in Motherwell to reopen appeared first on UK Construction Online.