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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Business
Samuel Osborne

Tata steel: Tycoon emerges as potential rescuer for Port Talbot

A steel tycoon has reportedly emerged as potential saviours for the Port Talbot steelworks. 

Sanjeev Gupta has said he is ready to open talks with the Government about a rescue plan to save the plant, potentially saving thousands of jobs.

The founder of commodities firm Liberty House told the Sunday Telegraph he was in the process of opening discussions with Tata Steel, but said any deal would require a "proper partnership" with the Government to succeed. 

Mr Gupta told the paper: "I haven't made a proposition that I want to buy all of [Tata Steel UK] because that's too big an undertaking to even put on the table at this stage.

"If the company, its people, its workers and the Government would be willing to consider my suggestions then I'm willing to engage in a discussion about what role we will play in that."

Meanwhile, the German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp was in talks with Tata about buying Port Talbot and its other UK sites around three months ago, the Observer reports.

The paper cited a source saying Tata could potentially rescue the deal if the UK government provided substantial financial support.

Tata Steel put its entire UK business up for sale to stem heavy losses, blamed on high manufacturing costs and competition with China.

In January, the company announced more than 1,000 job cuts in the UK, including 750 at Port Talbot, where it employs 4,000 staff and a further 3,000 contractors and temporary workers.

Business minister Anna Soubry said "the dream" solution would be to find a successful buyer, but Tata says it is losing £1m a day in its UK operations.

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