Steelmakers Improve Environmental Performance

Companies that appear on our pollution league table last night defended their operations.

Robert Dangerfield, spokesman for Corus in Wales, said, “The optimum environmental solution is worldwide emissions management for worldwide benefit and which creates a sustainable steel industry in Wales.

“Our activity is monitored in partnership with the Environment Agency and we comply with statutory emission requirements. “We should be clear that Corus has a vital, positive part to play: in Wales we produce 5million tonnes of high-quality steel and we are a vital economic generator.

Western Mail readers who drive a car, occupy steel buildings, use electrical appliances, have radiators in their homes, drink canned beer or eat baked beans, for example, or feed canned Whiskas to their cat, are experiencing some of the very positive contributions our industry makes to their daily life. “We’ve taken great steps to improve our environmental impact.

Thanks to technical improvement and investment, steelmaking in Wales produces half the amount of CO2 that it did in 1970. “In addition to the millions of pounds invested in the past in environmental protection technology, Port Talbot received an investment of £6m in the site’s sinter plant gas cleaning system. Following commitment of this type, emissions to air and water have been reduced significantly compared with levels as recent as 1999.

“Energy efficiency is a highly topical subject – and while energy prices are high, they play a key competitive role.