7 Steel seeks policy support

The 7 Steel UK business unit of Czech Republic-based Sev.en Global Investments has gained support from Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, in its effort to garner favorable trade measures and relief from rising electrical costs from the government of the United Kingdom.

A late February statement posted to the 7 Steel UK website says in part, “It’s no secret that steelmakers in Wales are operating against a backdrop of global challenges—from overcapacity and volatile trading conditions through to industrial electricity costs that remain significantly higher than those of many international competitors.”

That statement includes a link to a statement from Morgan indicating she has met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer “pressed what is now the urgent need for the U.K. government to act on policy developments that will support our steel industry and steel workers here in Wales.”

In addition to mentioning the 7 Steel recycled-content EAF mill in Cardiff, Wales, Morgan also refers to the “transition of Tata Steel to electric arc steelmaking firmly underway” in Port Talbot, Wales.

The Welsh politician goes on to mention the importance of U.K.-made steel having open access to European Union markets, commenting, “The EU is our closest and strongest trading partner on steel, and we have been very clear with the UK Government that we urgently need to see it make a strong case for the EU to preserve our existing arrangements, especially at a time when our sector is transitioning to net zero.”

In its statement, 7 Steel UK writes that points of emphasis should include “prioritizing trade protection beyond June of this year and providing stability in energy pricing to give domestic steelmakers the protection and support needed for long-term security. These are things we are hopeful of seeing in the highly anticipated UK Steel Strategy.”