Thousands of steelworkers are facing a nightmare just before Christmas after it was claimed British Steel has accelerated plans to close two blast furnaces as part of a push for green energy.

Unions claim that replacing the blast furnaces at the site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, could result in at least 2,500 workers losing their jobs, in a huge blow to the local Labour community.

Blast furnaces make steel by feeding coal fuel, iron ore and limestone which is heated to over 1000C by extremely hot air ‘blown’ into the furnace. The process produces a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2).

British Steel wants to replace the current method with electric arc furnaces (EAF), which work by melting scrap steel using superheated electrodes. Limestone, fluorspar, carbon and oxygen are then added to increase the purity of the steel in a process that produces around 70 percent less CO2.

But EAF kilns require far fewer workers to operate and, according to a source who spoke to the Independent, stopping imports of coal fuel for the kilns in October at Scunthorpe means “at least 2,500 jobs will be lost by the end of the year”.

Unions have criticised the decision to close the blast furnaces before the new EAF models are built, which were expected to be completed in December 2025.

Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national director of the GMB union, said: “The union has been assured throughout the process that blast furnace operations would continue during the construction of the electric arc furnace.

“There has been no consultation about an early closure. British Steel and the government must engage with workers immediately to safeguard jobs and livelihoods.”

It is reported that the Chinese owners of the steel mill are in negotiations with the government over its closure. A deal could be struck that would see British Steel import three million tonnes of steel from China to keep the mills operating here.

China joins India, effectively becoming a country on which Britain becomes dependent for steel imports.

Britain’s largest steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, is also to close two blast furnaces. Indian owner Tata Steel decides to do so, resulting in the loss of 2,800 jobs.

A British Steel spokesman said: “Our imports of raw materials continue but have been reduced due to ongoing production issues. We are working to restore production levels from our ageing blast furnaces.

“We are discussing our carbon reduction plans with the government, but no final decision has been made yet.”