Steel firm cutting 440 jobs warns 'revolution' needed to save 'life support' industry

A steel executive at a company where 440 jobs are at risk tonight warns the government that a 'revolution' is needed to save an industry 'on life support'.

Writing exclusively for mirror.co.uk, Liberty Steel Chief Transformation Officer Jeff Kabel warns of the long-term viability of the sector, which employs 34,500 people directly in the UK and supports 43 000 more in supply chains.

This comes after Liberty announced last week that it would mothball its sites in West Bromwich in the West Midlands and Tredegar in South Wales and stop producing steel at its Newport plant.

Up to 185 positions are at risk in Rotherham, 121 in Newport, 99 in West Bromwich and 35 in Tredegar.

The Liberty steelworks at Tredegar in South Wales will be mothballed (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

Mr. Kabel blamed exorbitant energy costs for putting pressure on the industry.

“UK prices for steelmakers remain stubbornly between 40% and 60% higher than our competitors in Europe,” he writes.

"It is therefore not surprising that the UK has been a net importer of steel in all but five years since 2005, with imports massively outstripping exports every year since 2015.

"These are clear signs of an industry on life support."

He says that "in the past two years alone Liberty has injected £200m into its UK operations "to keep factories running and protect workers' livelihoods".

But he adds, "While this may be noble, it has severely limited our ability to invest in the future.

"All of this has left the industry - and I'm sure the government too - wondering about its future."

Hundreds of jobs are at risk (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

He fears an exodus of workers unless his future is secured.

"We have a highly skilled workforce, although there is a word of warning...