Port Talbot Steelworks - Phased Permit Application

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 web page describes the approach we are taking and explains how you can stay informed and have your say.

Application Details

Application Reference: PAN-029148

Application Type: Substantial variation to an environmental permit

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

What is being proposed?

TSUK proposes to change the activities listed within its permit to reflect the industrial transformation taking place at Port Talbot Steelworks. This involves:

• removing iron and steelmaking activities which have ceased
• retaining some activities needed for electric arc steelmaking (with any necessary modifications or upgrades)
• adding new activities that support efficient electric arc steelmaking
• changing or upgrading some activities to align them with the transformation

The application as a whole will contain 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.

What is the current status of the application?

The current application components focus on:

• removal of activities that have been closed and decommissioned by TSUK e.g. blast furnaces, coke ovens
• retention of some mothballed activities that will not operate during the transformation phase, but may be recommissioned in future
• adding new activities needed to facilitate TSUK’s transformation e.g. temporary steam generation and temporary scrap metal handling facilities

This is a preliminary / enabling permitting phase and it does not involve assessment of the core components of TSUK's application, including the new electric arc furnace and cold rolling mill activities.

How is NRW determining this application?

As this is a complex permitting case, we are taking a phased approach, with smaller variations determined during TSUK’s transformation and consolidated into the final installation permit at the end of the process. We will:

• handle permit variation submissions in phases or ‘components’
• assess each component as it arrives
• issue variation notices as we determine each component
• publish updated permit documents on NRW’s public register periodically
• consult using NRW’s Citizen Space portal, enabling input from others throughout this phased determination process
• consolidate the installation permit after determining all the variation components, ensuring TSUK has supplied all the required technical information needed for this application

This approach allows us to be as responsive as possible during our determination. It also offers transparency and allows early, proactive engagement with interested parties.

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. 

How can I participate?

We welcome comments from interested parties during this general consultation. Periodically, we will open shorter, focused consultations for different components of this permit variation. Our permitting timeline will be updated when we do this, with links to focused consultations.

You can:

• Read the application documents on our public register (search using ‘PAN-029148’)
• View our permitting timeline to track the progress of this complex application
• View the latest draft permit and decision document (when available)
• Respond to focused consultations throughout this phased determination
• Submit general comments and questions using the online consultation link below

If you have any issues submitting your comments, you can send them to us by email at permittingconsultations@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk. Please quote the permit number and/or the application reference number in your email.

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.  

What happens next?

We expect to receive further variation components from TSUK as its steelworks transformation project progresses. This overview, our permitting timeline and NRW’s public register will be updated as new information becomes available.