In April 2025, the UK government enacted emergency legislation to prevent the closure of British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, safeguarding approximately 2,700 jobs. The Chinese-owned company, Jingye, had planned to shut down the plant's two blast furnaces, threatening the end of primary steel production in the UK. The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act 2025 granted the government authority to maintain operations and secure essential raw materials. This decisive action was widely supported by unions and industry leaders, highlighting the strategic importance of domestic steel manufacturing.
Steel production
