New council appointed to guide UK Greensteel

AN EXPERT panel that includes engineers and politicians has been appointed to advise the UK on how it can develop a competitive low-carbon metals sector, and champion the cause.

The new so-called Greensteel Council is sponsored by metals group Liberty House and its sister group SIMEC in a partnership called the GFG Alliance. The council, whose members include IChemE Fellow and CEO of the Materials Processing Institute Chris McDonald, will primarily advise its sponsors on how they can implement their green strategy.

The Greensteel strategy was launched in June last year, and seeks to bring about an industrial renaissance, bolstering the UK metals sector and boosting jobs. It has three key elements that include investing in: electric arc furnaces alongside existing blast furnaces so the UK can begin recycling its own steel; low-cost, long-term renewable power close to steel plants; and engineering companies that use its steel to produce advanced components for UK-based growth industries, including renewable power.

The secondary focus of the council is to promote low-carbon production methods across the UK’s wider metals sectors.

“Our advice will be independent and based on solid evidence, and our clear objective will be the development of a more sustainable future for the metals industries in Britain,” said council chair Edwina Hart, who was minister for business, enterprise and technology in the Welsh government between 2011–2016.

Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of the GFG Alliance said: “The council brings together an excellent team, offering a really valuable cross-section of experience and perspective related to the metals and energy sectors. That combination will help guide the GFG Alliance in its realisation of the Greensteel vision and encourage the wider industry to go in the low-carbon direction. We are convinced the green approach will provide the platform to re-establish the UK as an industrial leader.”

The councils other members include Julian Allwood, professor of engineering and the environment at the University of Cambridge, and Martin Lawrence, a former executive at EDF Energy.