First Minister Carwyn Jones has joined the CEO of Tata Steel Europe, Kirby Adams to launch a new plant which will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions at Port Talbot steelworks.

The £60 million investment will reduce the site's carbon dioxide emissions by some 240,000 tonnes a year and has created a facility which will complement Wales' commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3% annually.

The plant recovers gas from the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking plant and reuses it elsewhere in the plant. The facility is also expected to reduce the emission of dust (known as PM10s), as well as to half the Port Talbot works’ external requirement for natural gas.

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Speaking at the launch, the First Minister said: "With Wales Sustainability Week taking place next week, it is a pleasure to be here in Port Talbot to launch this key investment by Corus, which is a big boost for sustainability in Wales. This project is all about protecting the environment, but moreover it represents a massive boost to the Welsh economy and a real vote of confidence by Tata in steelmaking in Wales."

The steelworks business at Port Talbot directly employs some 5,000 people, but the economic community of contractors, suppliers and other partners increases the number many times. Corus employs over 7,000 people in Wales in total.

(CD/GK)