A fire broke out at a Tata plant in the UK
As Callanish became aware, a fire at the British Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot caused damage to some production processes.
The Fire Service of Mid and West Wales arrived at the scene on Wednesday evening at about 20:00 to extinguish a fire on one of the production lines. As of 07:00 local time on Thursday, emergency services remained on site and were working with local teams to fully extinguish the fire, a Tata Steel spokesman said.
The fire department retains control over the territory of the refrigeration workshop where the fire first occurred, Tata Steel said in an updated statement.
The steel mill adds: "Therefore, we are currently unable to assess the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage, or the potential impact on production. However, the company is exploring a number of options to minimize the potential impact on its recycling facilities and external customers."
Tata notes that the fire occurred in a limited area. Although the hot rolling mill was shut down as a precautionary measure, it did not affect its operation, and it is expected to resume production soon.
All personnel were gathered and safely evacuated from the area.
Tata says the incident is unrelated to the safe and successful dismantling of the empty, redundant gas tank that occurred last night.
In a statement, Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite workers' union, said the fire had caused "significant damage to a vital production line." She calls on Tata and the government to ensure that operations are restored as quickly as possible and that jobs are protected during any period of disruption.
Photo courtesy of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Author: Carrie Bone
Kallanish.com