STEEL union Unite demanded today the nationalisation of electricity after it emerged the start of the electric arc furnace at Port Talbot might be delayed.

The union made the call after reports that the £1.25 billion electric arc furnace at Tata Steel’s south Wales plant might be held up for eight months because of electrical connectivity issues with the National Grid.

Steel making at Port Talbot has been put on hold after the company shut down its last coal blast furnace there in September 2024.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the union had raised the issue with Sir Keir Starmer’s government and called for nationalisation of electricity.

“The national grid is systematically failing businesses seeking to maintain and increase employment and expansion plans,” she said.

“This is yet another example of what is wrong with our privatised electricity system in Britain.

“It acts only in the interests of its shareholders, not the wider UK economy, making eye-watering profits that we could be reaping the benefits from.

“Unite has raised this with government. We need to renationalise our energy starting with the grid.”

GMB union hit back at comments by Reform UK’s Jason O’Connell, who called delays “unnecessary bureaucracy,” saying the issue must not be used to “weaponise the situation for political capital.”

“The transition at Port Talbot has been painful for the local community and workers can’t be kept in the dark on developments at the electric arc furnace,” GMB’s Charlotte Brumpton-Childs said.

“National Grid needs to get its act together to deliver this project and put an end to the uncertainty felt by workers, their families, and the wider community.

“The priority for any concerned stakeholders must be protecting the community and workforce, not weaponising the situation for political capital.”

Tata Steel would not confirm reports that the company’s chief financial officer, Koushik Chatterjee, warned investors last month that problems with electrical connectivity might put the project back by up to eight months, or longer.

The company said its challenge was to work with the National Grid to arrive at an agreed timetable, and would not confirm what the timeline was.

The Port Talbot site was hit by a major fire last week, causing substantial damage to a production line, leading to union calls for measures to be put in place to protect jobs.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We have asked Tata Steel UK for assurances that the project is progressing as quickly and safely as possible. They have confirmed they are working with National Grid and other agencies to advance the project swiftly and safely, and we will continue to do all we can to support this work.”