According to This is South Wales, an environmental assessment has been drawn up of the project, which will see production levels rise by 25 per cent at the plant which directly employs around 3,500 people.

The report tackles everything from the size of the development and cultural heritage of the site to its potential environmental impact, it is reported.

A sustainable steel industry
It states that the proposed rebuilding of the blast furnace at the Port Talbot site will ensure the continuation of a sustainable steel industry in Wales and the continuity of long-term job security.

The report concludes that “the replacement of the blast furnace will enable a number of improvements to be carried out which will have numerous advantages in terms of noise reduction over the previous system. It states that: "It is likely therefore that the proposed development will not produce noise levels as high as those already emitted."

Risk of accidents
The report also tackles the risk of accidents involved with the blast furnace and states: "The design of the new blast furnace incorporates new technology and represents a significant overall risk reduction from the current furnace."