Ritika Janiya
Port Talbot: Port Talbot, Wales, has long been known for its steelworks. Of late, however, the town is in for a big change. Tata Steelworks’ last blast furnace will soon close down. In other words, Port Talbot will be letting go of producing new steel. This sounds like a big deal for the town and the local people. Let’s take a closer look at what this will mean for the community and the workers.
Last Days for a Blast Furnace
A blast furnace is a very large oven which melts down iron to create steel. Company Tata Steel running the steelworks has announced its shut down of the last of six furnaces: the number four blast furnace. The process started recently and marks the end of a home closure for steel production in Port Talbot.
Over the next few days, new materials will no longer be fed into the furnace by the workers. This will come with a few observable effects. The nearby residents will see an awful lot more steam and be awakened by the loud “whooshing” sounds of the furnace. Such happenings and sensations while the furnace is preparing to shut down have nothing wrong with them. Just as the works manager, Dean Cartwright, assured everyone, there is no cause for alarm with this process.
Why the Shift?
Tata Steel has decided to shift over from the blast furnaces, which have been conventionally used, to electric arc furnaces. They are considered more environmentally friendly for two obvious reasons: first, they are taking scrap metal instead of raw iron; second, they produce considerably lesser amount of carbon dioxide. While this is a godsend to the earth, it is death knell to thousands of jobs.
Unfortunately, nearly 2,000 people will lose their jobs when the furnace shuts down. The situation is very harsh for workers and their families. Losing a job is very stressful, especially when it has been part of someone’s life for many years. Many of these workers have devoted their lives to the steel industry, and now they must think of finding new jobs in different fields.
Community Impact
The steelworks have been the heart of Port Talbot for centuries. Families have worked in the local steelworks for decades. The blast furnace is a huge part of what makes Port Talbot the town that it is, and its loss will impact not only workers but the community.
The people at local shops, schools, and services count on the jobs that Tata Steel provides. These job losses will have less money spent in the community, which hurts local businesses-it’s like a ripple that can affect the whole town.
So, What is Next?
During this change in Tata Steel, what happens to the workers is one question that has surfaced in millions of minds. As told by Tata, they will make every possible effort to support the employees in getting a new job. They will train and support them for acquiring new skills. However, this is still difficult times, and everybody is apprehensive about their future.
This is a silver lining: Tata Steel is apparently still making some investments in new technologies. They are erecting another electric arc furnace in another country, which means the company is looking into the future regardless of whether that future follows some old practices or not. Change may be necessary for the growth of the company, but it also stresses the difficult fact of job loss for many people across Port Talbot.
Community Resilience
Despite all this, the people of Port Talbot are strong and robust. Communities often rally around one another in tough times. They might be through new inventions into making employment or urging and retaining local businesses that would be affected by this change.
New industries can be found for the town to attract new employment in that area. That gives Port Talbot an opportunity to transform and diversify into other ventures, besides just the production of steel. Change is usually a hard process, but on some occasions, it introduces different goodies to look forward to.
Looking into the Future
However, in the run-up to the closure of the blast furnace at Tata Steel, one important thing to remember is that every end must signify a new beginning. Port Talbot will have to face its problems, but community spirit can lend the momentum through that transition. Increased opportunities, support for workers or just realizing what is needed in which to thrive in areas of new industries – but bounce back the town can.
