News: Tata Steel sign one of the UK's largest industrial energy supply contracts

Tata Steel, one of the world's largest steel producers, has signed one of the UK's biggest ever industrial energy supply contract with npower, which will see the company provide energy to 22 Tata Steel plants across the UK.

The contract equates to a supply of approximately five terawatt hours (TWh) of energy, enough to power 1,260,000 homes – more than the number of households in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Coventry and Bradford combined.

Dr Karl-Ulrich Köhler, managing director and CEO of Tata Steel Europe, said: "We operate in a very volatile and challenging energy environment nowadays, so it is vital that the energy supply chain in the UK is fit for purpose.

"We need an energy supplier committed to managing our requirements in terms of continuity of supply, delivered costs and service, and we have been impressed by the way npower has demonstrated enthusiasm and capability to meet those requirements."

Volker Beckers, CEO of RWE npower, added: "Tata Steel is Europe's second largest steel producer with most of its operations based in the UK, so it is a major coup for npower to be the energy partner of a company at the heart of UK industry.

"The sheer scale of this supply contract demonstrates how energy plays a crucial role in supporting business and the uk economy."

Tata Steel Europe employs around 2,000 steelworkers in South Yorkshire and their Aldwarke site is the focus for steel making, casting and rolling of specialist steels. This is produced via the Electric Arc Furnance (EAF) steelmaking route using high quality recycled metal. Narrow strip is produced at Brinsworth.

Tata Steel website

Images: Laura Kramer / Flickr