Corus Teesside unit secures 350 jobs with Total's £200-million order

Corus, the European subsidiary of Tata Steel, has been awarded a £200-million contract by French energy giant Total E&P to supply pipes for a gas field west of the Shetlands, thereby securing more than 350 jobs at its Hartlepool facility in the UK.

With this timely order, Corus, Europe's second largest steel producer after ArcelorMittal, will be able to secure some jobs at its loss-making Teesside Cast Products unit in Hartlepool after the steelmaker partially mothballed the unit last month, in which 1,600 workers faced the prospect of losing their jobs (See: Corus to end 150 years of steelmaking at Teesside this week). 

The 150,000 tonnes of pipeline, around 500km in length, will be manufactured at the company's Hartlepool site through 2010 and into 2011, securing both existing and additional employment for the area, said Corus in a statement.

''The order has been won against strong global competition based on our world leading pipe-making capability and our proven operational performance. We look forward to working with Total on this landmark project and we are committed to delivering a world-class pipeline solution,'' said Remco Blaauw, managing director of Corus Tubes.

Corus CEO Kirby Adams said, "I am delighted that Corus' world-class large-diameter Hartlepool pipe facility has been recognised through the awarding of this order. The securing of jobs and the creation of new ones at Hartlepool are particularly welcome."

Total and Corus signed the letter of award yesterday in London in the presence of the UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.