Tata Steel has confirmed plans to close blast furnaces at its plant in Port Talbot, South Wales, with the loss of more than 3,000 jobs.

       About 2,800 jobs will go over the next 18 months, with a further 300 to be lost after. The firm, which has its headquarters in India, said the plans were aimed at “reversing more than a decade of losses”.

       In a statement, Tata added: “The transformation would secure most of Tata Steel UK’s existing product capability and maintain the country’s self-sufficiency in steelmaking, while also reducing Tata Steel UK’s CO2 emissions by five million tonnes per year and overall UK country emissions by about 1.5 per cent.”

       But the move sparked outrage among unions and local politicians.

       A statement by the GMB and Community said: “It is an absolute disgrace that Tata Steel, and the UK government, appear intent on pursuing the cheapest instead of the best plan for our industry, our steelworkers and our country.

       Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon - home of the Port Talbot steelworks - criticised the closure of the furnaces, warning that the UK would become the only country in the G20 without the capacity to “make its own steel from scratch”.