News that more than 1000 jobs are to be lost in South Wales steelmaking is devastating for the local economy, the supply chain and the affected communities.
Alice Hooker Stroud, leader of the Wales Green Party said;
"The loss of 1050 jobs will be devastating to families and local communities in Port Talbot but is also extremely short sighted. The renewable energy infrastructure we need to provide us with clean, green electricity - as demanded by the Wales Green Party - will require steel. Instead of importing that steel from other countries, increasing carbon emissions globally, we should be using steel manufactured in Wales. We need to look at ways of making the steel industry more energy efficient to reduce its environmental impact."
Pippa Bartolotti, candidate for Newport West and the South East Wales Regional List said, “The Welsh government has had 11 years notice of these job losses, and now it pleads impotence. I call on Carwyn Jones to take action now to prevent future losses. The market will not solve the problem, changing state aid rules will.
Cheap Chinese Steel has been flooding the UK market for some years now. This steel is being sold at a loss, and the EU needs to step in urgently if we are not to lose steel-making capability in Wales.”
One thing which is not being discussed is the effect of steel making industries on pollution. If we buy steel from China we not only create the associated, and higher, pollution Chinese people have to suffer, we increase CO2 through the transportation of the product halfway round the world.
Lisa Rapado, Wales Green Party Candidate for South Wales West and Neath Constituency Candidate. added, “This is why steel making needs to stay in Wales. It is less polluting, our standards our higher, and it is delivered locally. We must ask Welsh businesses to support Welsh steelmaking, and ask Welsh consumers to buy Welsh products. It will be cheaper in the long run as we ensure that 1000’s of jobs are saved and our communities remain intact."
China produces as much steel as the rest of the world combined. As China’s growth slows, the excess steel that Chinese industry doesn’t need is being marketed overseas, filling Chinese coffers with desirable foreign currency.
Alice Hooker Stroud commented further;
"The Welsh government needs to be looking urgently at how to develop renewable energy schemes, predicted to be worth billions of pounds to the Welsh economy and would create thousands of high quality, sustainable jobs that would help communities like Port Talbort, but only last week did David Cameron turn his nose up at the tidal lagoon project.
"Once again, the 'greenest government ever' has failed to see the opportunity in renewables, and fails to support local, sustainable jobs in our communities. The Westminster Government doesn't seem to have a long-term view. We need to invest for now and for the future. While Westminster dithers, Wales suffers."