Industry Minister Sarah Jones has visited Port Talbot to host a roundtable with CEOs from across UK industry, including Associated British Ports and RWE, to help drive investment into the area.
The roundtable follows the Government’s pledge to secure investment in steelmaking areas like Port Talbot and ensure a sustainable future for the region, following Tata Steel Port Talbot’s transition to greener steel production. It also forms part of the Government’s engagement with industry and steelmaking communities towards the launch of its Steel Strategy in Spring 2025.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said:
“This Government is committed to Port Talbot. By holding roundtables like these we’re making the most of the area’s potential to help secure new, good jobs.
“We’re listening to industry and local steelmaking communities, ensuring their views are reflected in our upcoming Steel Strategy which will be backed by up to £2.5 billion of investment.”
The roundtable was set to bring together 11 CEOs from across industry to focus on incentives to invest in Port Talbot, the barriers and challenges to securing investment in the area and what government and industry can do to overcome these.
It also follows £13 million in new funding announced by the Welsh Secretary last week to support people in the local area affected by Tata Steel’s transition to set up new businesses, support existing local businesses and find new opportunities.
Following the roundtable, Minister Jones was due to visit ABP Port Talbot and the location for the Celtic Freeport, to tour the site and discuss further investment opportunities in the area.
She was then due to visit Tata Steel’s Port Talbot plant to meet with CEO Rajesh Nair regarding the company’s transition to electric arc furnace steelmaking, tour the site and meet with steelworkers.
Full list of roundtable attendees:
- Rebecca Evans MS – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Welsh Government
- Frances O’Brien – CEO, Neath Port Talbot Council
- Luciana Ciubotariu – CEO, Celtic Freeport
- Henrik Pederson – CEO, ABP Port Talbot
- Richard Little – Director, Pembroke Net Zero Centre, RWE
- Katherine Bennett – CEO, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
- Sarah Williams-Gardener – Chair, Western Gateway and Fintech Wales
- Andrew Evans – Senior Director, KLA
- Greg Archer – Director, European Policy, LanzaTech
- Nick Revell – CEO, Ledwood Mechanical Engineering
- Simon Willis – CEO, Heidelberg Materials
