Port Talbot Steelworks - Draft Decision PAN-029148.1

Overview

Tata Steel UK Ltd (TSUK) is transitioning from integrated steelmaking (using blast furnaces and basic oxygen steelmaking techniques) to a new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) based process at Port Talbot Steelworks. As part of this major transformation, the company is applying to change its environmental permit EPR/BL7108IM, issued by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

This change, termed a ‘variation’, is a legal requirement under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016.

TSUK’s proposed site transformation is extensive and complex. NRW will therefore use a phased approach to update TSUK’s permit, involving several variation notices and a fully consolidated permit at the end of the process. Each stage will be reviewed separately to ensure environmental protection and permit integrity is maintained. For transparency and efficiency, we have assigned a single Permit Application Number (PAN) to all the component parts of TSUK’s variation application.

This consultation focuses on the first component of TSUK's phased application, which corresponds to a normal permit variation. We have assessed the proposed changes and we are minded to grant the permit variation. We are seeking your comments on the draft permit documents.

Application Details

Application Reference: PAN-029148.1

Application Type: Normal variation to an environmental permit (within a larger, phased substantial permit variation application)

Environmental Permit Number: EPR/BL7108IM

Regulated Facility Type: Installation – Section 2.1: Ferrous Metals – Part A(1)(b) Producing, melting or refining iron or steel or any ferrous alloy, including continuous casting.

Regulated Facility Location: Port Talbot Steelworks, Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot SA13 2NG

Operator: Tata Steel UK Ltd

This variation - V019 of permit EPR/BL7108IM - focuses on:

• Removal of permitted activities no longer undertaken and incapable of being restarted (related to integrated steelmaking using Blast Furnaces & Basic Oxygen Furnaces)
• Suspension/mothballing of some permitted activities which will not operate during TSUK's site transformation
• Addition of alternative steam generation boilers (Medium Combustion Plant) to fulfil residual site demand following decommissioning of older Large Combustion Plant connected with integrated steelmaking

The application contains a description of how the proposed changes will affect the installation; the materials, substances and energy it will use and generate; the conditions of its site; the source, nature and quantity of its foreseeable emissions and their potential impact, the proposed techniques for preventing, reducing, and monitoring its emissions and preventing and recovering waste; and an outline of the main alternatives, if any, considered.

Public consultation is not routinely required for normal permit variations. In this case, we recognise that PAN-029148.1 is closely linked with other elements of TSUK's site transformation, including future Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) operation, and there is wider public interest in this large industrial transformation project. We have therefore decided to consult on our draft decision for this variation component. This decision was made in accordance the Environment Permitting Regulations (EPR), our statutory Public Participation Statement, and our Regulatory Guidance.

It is expected that future phased application components e.g. Electric Arc Furnace will correspond to substantial permit variation. NRW will consult on such applications in accordance with its legal duties, as outlined in our Public Participation Statement.

Our general consultation page (see 'Related', below) contains more information about the approach we are taking for this phased application, and explains how you can stay informed and have your say.

Our draft decision

We are minded to issue the permit variation. We will only issue a permit variation if we believe that significant pollution will not be caused, and the operator has the ability to meet the conditions of the permit.

The permit includes appropriate conditions to protect human health and the environment. 

Why your views matter

This is your opportunity to review our draft decision and submit your comments. We will take all relevant responses into account before we make our final decision on the permit application.

Please see Natural Resources Wales / Public participation: how you can take part in our permit and licence consultations for more information on how we consult and what matters are within our regulatory remit.

Please remember that we cannot lawfully allow comments on matters falling outside our legal remit to influence our permitting decision. 

You can view the following draft documents using the links below:

• Draft variation notice
• Draft decision document

They are also available on our online public register.

You can submit your comments using the online consultation link below. If you have any issues submitting your comments, you can send your comments to us by email to permittingconsultations@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.