Tata Steel UK is continuing its commitment to involving Welsh businesses in its £1.25bn transformation at Port Talbot, with Newport-based Braithwaite Engineers manufacturing an emergency water tank for the site’s new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF).

Italian engineering company PERT, which is delivering the furnace’s water systems, selected Braithwaite Engineers as its preferred supplier for the emergency water tank.

The 200-cubic-metre tank will sit on top of a 50-metre tower and play a vital role in maintaining the flow of cooling water to the furnace in the event of an interruption to the main water supply.

With more than 120 years of experience in manufacturing water tanks, Braithwaite Engineers specialises in hot-pressed galvanised steel panel tanks supplied to customers around the world.

Among its achievements is a 15,000-cubic-metre tank in the Himalayas, one of the largest the company has manufactured, which is celebrating 80 years in service and remains operational today.

The company has also enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Tata Steel and its predecessor businesses.

Ian Hoppy, managing director of Braithwaite Engineers, said: “We’ve been supplying Tata Steel, to my knowledge, for over 50 years.”

The emergency water tank is being manufactured using steel supplied through Tata Steel’s operations, with production and galvanising taking place locally in Newport before the components are delivered to Port Talbot for assembly.

Ian Terry, mechanical engineer at Tata Steel UK, said: “From the outset of our transformation at Port Talbot, we’ve been committed to involving local businesses wherever possible and ensuring that this major investment delivers opportunities for the wider Welsh economy.

Braithwaite Engineers is a great example of the expertise we have here in South Wales. It’s fantastic to see a local manufacturer playing such an important role in delivering the infrastructure for our new Electric Arc Furnace.

Projects like this demonstrate how our transformation is not only shaping the future of steelmaking in the UK, but also supporting the businesses and supply chains that are so important to our industry.”

The emergency water tank forms part of a wider water infrastructure programme being delivered by PERT, with the equipment expected to be among the first major components installed as construction of the new EAF progresses.

The project brings together international engineering expertise and local manufacturing capability, demonstrating how Welsh businesses are contributing to Tata Steel UK’s transition towards lower-CO₂ steelmaking.