BRITISH steelmaking is less than 24 hours from collapse as ministers scramble to save the industry.
In last-ditch crisis talks, the Government offered to buy emergency coal from abroad to keep Scunthorpe’s blast furnaces fired up.
But it has sparked anger as it comes just months after Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blocked any hope of a new UK coal mine in Cumbria as part of his drive to hit Net Zero — leaving Britain reliant on imported supplies.
British Steel’s Chinese owner Jingye has refused to foot the bill for coal imports having announced plans to shut down operations.
Lord Ben Houchen, the Tory Tees Valley Mayor, said: “The Government is now financially subsidising a Chinese-owned company by buying coal for them and importing it, all the while refusing to allow a new coal mine to be opened that would create British jobs.”
Worried steelworkers told The Sun that without a commitment for raw material supplies by tonight, the furnaces were likely to shut down permanently.
The move risks nearly 3,000 British jobs and would make Britain the only G7 country unable to manufacture its own steel.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds held talks with British Steel bosses and pledged to work at pace.
Meanwhile, PM Sir Keir Starmer said “all options are on the table”, including nationalisation.
The Government has now formally put the coal-buying offer in writing but Jingye is yet to accept.
It comes as Labour is set to give the green light to the nuclear power plant Sizewell C in Suffolk, along with a number of of mini reactors.
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