This concerns the Coating Gas Factory 2, which is known as one of the most polluting parts of the steel factory. According to the Environment Agency, this part does not meet the legal requirements.
For example, the oven walls are said to be in poor condition and Tata Steel is postponing necessary maintenance. There are also emissions from the black smoke plumes from the so-called battery chimneys.
On December 19 last year, Tata Steel was given one year to improve the situation around cooking gas plant 2, but subsequently filed an objection. After additional research, the province announced today that the objection has been rejected.
Possible closure
This means that Tata Steel still has two weeks to improve the Cooking Gas Plant 2. If this is not possible before December 24, the Environment Agency may decide to close this part of the factory. Tata Steel can still appeal against that decision.
A spokesperson for the environmental agency says that the first inspections of the Coating Gas Factory 2 are already planned. She cannot say exactly when these inspections will take place.
Tata Steel will consider next steps, a spokesperson said. “We can still appeal, and on appeal. In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to improve our factories.”