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| Corus plant mothballing to begin | Corus plant mothballing to begin |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Partial mothballing of the Corus steel plant in Redcar is due to begin later. | Partial mothballing of the Corus steel plant in Redcar is due to begin later. |
| Teesside Cast Products (TCP) has been under threat since last year, when an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year contract. | Teesside Cast Products (TCP) has been under threat since last year, when an international consortium pulled out of a 10-year contract. |
| About 1,600 workers will lose their jobs, though the mothballing process could take up to six months. | About 1,600 workers will lose their jobs, though the mothballing process could take up to six months. |
| A consortium is said to be interested in buying the site, while Gordon Brown has said the government is "desperately looking" for new investment. | A consortium is said to be interested in buying the site, while Gordon Brown has said the government is "desperately looking" for new investment. |
| However, workers have accused the prime minister of talking "platitudes" and unions have stepped up warnings of industrial action. | However, workers have accused the prime minister of talking "platitudes" and unions have stepped up warnings of industrial action. |
| Alan Blackwood, 57, who has worked at Redcar for 42 years and is now facing voluntary retirement, said: "I am just gobsmacked. It just feels to me that Corus doesn't want Teesside to exist. | Alan Blackwood, 57, who has worked at Redcar for 42 years and is now facing voluntary retirement, said: "I am just gobsmacked. It just feels to me that Corus doesn't want Teesside to exist. |
| We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved Alan Blackwood, Corus worker | We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved Alan Blackwood, Corus worker |
| "We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved. I think I am more concerned about the company than the government is." | "We are dead, gone, finished. There is absolutely no way it can be saved. I think I am more concerned about the company than the government is." |
| Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the steelworks for three generations, said her brother finished his last shift this morning and would never be going back. | Linda Robinson, 50, whose family have been working at the steelworks for three generations, said her brother finished his last shift this morning and would never be going back. |
| She said: "They say mothballing, but really it's closure. It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak." | She said: "They say mothballing, but really it's closure. It is catastrophic for the community. The future is bleak." |
| The predicted knock-on effect of the mothballing has been described as "horrendous", with Redcar and Cleveland Council estimating that up to 8,000 further jobs could be lost at surrounding companies. | The predicted knock-on effect of the mothballing has been described as "horrendous", with Redcar and Cleveland Council estimating that up to 8,000 further jobs could be lost at surrounding companies. |
| The mothballing process could take up to six months | The mothballing process could take up to six months |
| Speaking yesterday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Politically, we are not going to walk away from this plant. We stand full square behind it. | Speaking yesterday, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Politically, we are not going to walk away from this plant. We stand full square behind it. |
| "We will do everything we can to bring it out of mothballing and back into production as everyone around here wants to see. | "We will do everything we can to bring it out of mothballing and back into production as everyone around here wants to see. |
| "The reason it is not yet a tragedy is because it is not yet a closure of this plant. This plant will be maintained, its ability to reopen and resume operation will be protected by the company, and I have that assurance from them." | "The reason it is not yet a tragedy is because it is not yet a closure of this plant. This plant will be maintained, its ability to reopen and resume operation will be protected by the company, and I have that assurance from them." |
| A Corus spokesman said: "Corus's position remains unchanged. This is a mothballing, not a permanent closure. TCP will be kept ready for a restart. Corus remains open to credible offers for TCP." | A Corus spokesman said: "Corus's position remains unchanged. This is a mothballing, not a permanent closure. TCP will be kept ready for a restart. Corus remains open to credible offers for TCP." |
| Unions, however, had called the mothballing "premature". | Unions, however, had called the mothballing "premature". |
| The Community union confirmed moves to ballot its members, while the GMB union announced it was considering action. | The Community union confirmed moves to ballot its members, while the GMB union announced it was considering action. |
| The shutting down of TCP's blast furnace will start on Friday, followed by the "blow down" process to use up the remaining raw materials. | The shutting down of TCP's blast furnace will start on Friday, followed by the "blow down" process to use up the remaining raw materials. |
| On Saturday, holes will be drilled in the furnace to take out residual metal - a procedure known as "tapping the salamander". | On Saturday, holes will be drilled in the furnace to take out residual metal - a procedure known as "tapping the salamander". |
| Work to preserve the machinery will then begin, in the hope that it can be restarted at a future date. | Work to preserve the machinery will then begin, in the hope that it can be restarted at a future date. |
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