Celsa gets approval for UK scrap processing plant

UK steelmaker Celsa Steel UK has been granted conditional planning approval to build a new shear processing plant at a scrapyard in Rotherham that would allow it to process 75,000 t/yr of metal.

Rotherham Borough Council confirmed conditional approval on 13 August for Celsa's application, which outlines the redevelopment of the scrap site to support the installation of a No. 1 shear, with the capacity to process 73,500/t of ferrous scrap and 1,500t of non-ferrous scrap per annum. The development of the site will create six new jobs.

Opposition to the plant development was led by metals recycler CF Booth, which also operates a shear at a site locally. In its objection to the plan the firm said that its 250 employees' jobs could all be in jeopardy if the new yard goes ahead, and that Rotherham does not need another shear processing plant.

But the council said it could not take potential loss of trade to a competitor as a factor in its decision. The outstanding conditions for the approval are largely related to environmental, visual and working hour issues.

Celsa operates its existing Rotherham yard as a hub to purchase scrap from the region for rail shipment to its electric arc furnace steel mill in Cardiff, Wales.

The establishment of a dedicated processing facility at this yard reflects an appetite from Celsa to increase its ability to source its own material and reduce its reliance on purchases of processed scrap from third-party recyclers, for which the steelmaker faces strong competition from bulk and containerised export markets.

By Ronan Murphy