Steel giant's plan to clean up its act

By rupert hall

A MULTI-MILLION pound drive to clean up Port Talbot's steelworks is due to be launched tomorrow.

Steel giant Corus will launch a £60 million scheme to cut the size of its carbon footprint at the site by 240,000 tonnes every year.

The plan, which was announced two years ago, will also reduce the emission of particulate matter by 40 tonnes per year.

First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones will join Tata Steel chief executive officer Kirby Adams and Corus Strip Products UK managing director Uday Chaturvedi at the plant for the official launch tomorrow.

A spokesman for Corus said: "By recovering by-product gas which was formerly flared-off, the project enables the steelworks to "recycle" substantial quantities of gas as a fuel with both environmental and commercial benefits.

"The £60 million investment represents a huge vote of confidence in the steel industry in Wales.

"An investment maintained during a period of severe economic recession thus protecting and creating jobs.

"It represents a vital inward investment to the economy in Wales. Wales-based businesses have benefited from orders from the project."

Swansea Metropolitan University has also embraced renewable energy after recording the first electricity generated by photovoltaic cells costing £40,000 at its Townhill campus.

The Met is now one of the top five UK universities for its low energy usage, and has the best carbon reduction figures for Welsh universities.

Swansea Met's environment manager Elizabeth May said the photovoltaic cell system showed its commitment to sustainability.

The switching on of the panels comes as the Met was awarded the Green Dragon Environmental Standard for its eco-management.

Swansea University environmental policy professor Karen Morrow said the latest move by Corus was about saving money as much as it was about appearing to be a responsible corporate actor.

Professor Morrow said developed countries had historically born the burden of tighter carbon emissions targets, because they were perceived to have contributed to the problem originally.

She said: "Developing countries have said we didn't cause the problems, and it is up to the developed countries to solve it.

"Morally speaking that is quite a good argument but looking into the future it is not going to be that simple.

"Big developing countries including India and China have a huge pollution potential, they could create a lot of greenhouse gases if they were so intended.

"Emissions controls should be more global in their focus.

"Companies that are operating in areas that do have good emissions controls develop new technology that they can sell on.

"Tata is trying to do business against what it sees as a moving target.

"As well as immediate savings for them they are also looking at the global picture, and in the long term positioning themselves in a more competitive environment."

The United Nations will hold its next Climate Change Conference in Cancun in Mexico in December this year.

Professor Morrow said: "That could change everything, but it is very unpredictable.

"The pressure is really on now."

rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk