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British steel history was made by a tycoon of Indian origin, Sanjeev Gupta, by re-starting production at 40-year-old mothballed plant in the UK. This comes at a time when UK steel industry in facing severe hardships because of global slump in the steel value.

International steel and metals group Liberty House, managing director, Gupta said, "It is the result of a lot of hard work and a strong belief in the potential of the plant here and the skills of the workforce. Steel production is right at the heart of the manufacturing eco-system.”

"By investing in making steel products we are helping to sustain a whole network of customers and suppliers across the South Wales and UK economy," added Gupta, who resumed the production at the Liberty Steel Newport. The production was re-started by rolling mill on the banks of Usk river in Newport. It marks the beginning of a new era.

In 1992, Liberty was founded as a metals trading company by UK-based Gupta from his student flat at Cambridge University. In 2013, it acquired the Newport facility at the same time retaining 150 staff over the period of intervention so as to get ready to resume with favorable market conditions.

"We intend to buck the recent trend in the UK steel industry, which has culminated in the tragic loss of jobs at both the TATA Llanwern site here in Newport and the closure of SSI Redcar [north-east England]," Sanjeev Gupta said.

"The UK has the richest history in steel production in the world and production is viable here, what is needed is a lean productive operation which is also agile and flexible, and one that is able to adapt quickly to changes in the market. We intend to continue creating jobs and investing in the skills of local people here in South Wales," he added.

Nearly 50,000 MT of hot-rolled coil (HRC) per month would be produced by the Newport steel works initially for the UK domestic market. The plant would potentially increase the production to 100,000 HRC per month with intention to serve even export markets. The steel would then be used to make varied products like fencing, crash barriers, lorry chassis, office furniture and so on.

The development at the plant was celebrated by local community, the steel industry representatives and public sector, who all gathered at the 110-acre site.

"Once energy prices for UK industry are brought in line with the rest of Europe, we will look to re-start the Melt Shop also to make liquid steel once again. It is inconceivable that the UK exports scrap that is melted in other countries who then supply steel made from this scrap back here," Gupta said.

-Sumana