Comment: British Steel to close blast furnaces in Scunthorpe

“Ageing blast furnaces need to be replaced and upgraded to produce greener steel if the UK is to maintain domestic production. But whilst electric arc furnaces have a role in recycling steel, failing to invest in modern hydrogen furnaces belies the Government's promises to invest for the longer term.

“As we're seeing in countries like Sweden and Germany, hydrogen furnaces can produce a wider variety of steel for UK manufacturers and secure more jobs. If the UK had a green industrial strategy to rival the US and EU, it would help to attract investment, modernise our industries and protect jobs; as it is, decisions like this risk just seeing us fall even further behind in the clean investment race.”