Job cuts in Tata Steel's UK operations ‘inevitable’, says CEO T V Narendran

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Tata Steel's operations in the UK, which are in a transition phase, is “inevitable", the company's CEO T V Narendran said.As reported by PTI, concerns about potential job losses have led to criticism from workers' unions, prompting ongoing protests against Tata Steel in the UK. Tata Steel, an India-based company, operates the largest steelworks in the UK, with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum, located in Port Talbot, South Wales.The company employs approximately 8,000 people across its operations in the country.

As part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Tata Steel is transitioning from the blast furnace route to the low-emission electric arc furnace process, which is nearing the end of its life cycle.Also Read: Are Tata Steel's Europe operations close to a turnaround?Speaking to PTI, Narendran said the transition to EAF with the UK government aid will make the company competitive in terms of reduced production cost, and also help in reduction of 5 million tonnes of Co2 per year.“But all this involves 2,500 job losses and that is what the unions obviously are not happy with. And that's a conversation going on with the unions to how can we do it in a smooth as possible way.

It is inevitable," he said.In September 2023, Tata Steel and the UK government reached a mutual agreement on a joint investment plan totaling 1.25 billion pounds. The funds are earmarked for the implementation of decarbonization initiatives at the Port Talbot steelmaking facility in Britain.