The international steel and minerals group Liberty House has announced that it has officially reopened the Dalzell steel plant in Motherwell, Scotland, which was closed by India-headquartered steel giant Tata Steel in December 2015 amid the steel industry crisis.
Liberty stated that it has spent the last five months rebuilding the workforce and recommissioning equipment at the huge site, which includes the UK’s largest and most versatile plate mill. Meanwhile, Liberty has already recruited around 120 staff for Dalzell, comprising many former employees who have returned and employment is expected to increase to over 200 within 18 months, as production rises in response to market demand.
According to Liberty, the restart of the Dalzell plant is estimated to contribute roughly £15 million a year to the economy around Motherwell, both in wages and supply contracts awarded to local businesses.