Tata Steel UK appoints Skanska for design and project management of low-carbon steel project

A Skanska technical team will be embedded at Port Talbot, working alongside main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine (Photo: Skanska)

Under the agreement, Skanska’s Technology business will provide civil and structural design for key project sections, including foundations, building structures, site infrastructure, and drainage.

“We have been working closely with Tata Steel for the past four years, developing the design and project management solution for this complex scheme,” said Susan Ryall, Engineering and Design Director at Skanska UK.

“We have a long history of delivering civil engineering works at Port Talbot. Building on this experience, we have worked collaboratively with the site team, using our technical expertise to create a solution that meets the needs of this project.

A Skanska technical team will be embedded at Port Talbot, working alongside the main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.

Tata Steel UK’s Head of Project Engineering, Dave Murray, added, “This £1.25 billion investment in low CO2 steelmaking is the biggest commitment the UK steel industry has seen in generations. It is critical that it is delivered on specification, on time and on budget, so it is important for us to choose the very best industrial partners with a strong reputation for delivery.

“We have worked closely with Skanska for a number of years, so have a good understanding of how their world-class capabilities fit in well with our own, and we are looking forward to working with them on this project.”

Led by Skanska’s Technology team in Bridgend, South Wales, the contract will support local employment and future growth. The new electric arc furnace, replacing the site’s decommissioned iron and steelmaking facilities, will produce three million tonnes of steel annually.

Once operational by late 2027, Skanska says that it will cut Port Talbot’s steelmaking carbon emissions by 90%, equivalent to five million tonnes of CO₂ per year.