British Steel, a steel company owned by China's Jingye Group, has received planning permission to build an electric arc furnace (EAF) at its Teesside plant. 

The application was approved by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council following a detailed consultation process. 

The new EAF is a key part of British Steel's £1.25 billion decarbonization plan, which aims to replace the company's outdated blast furnaces with more environmentally-friendly electric arc furnace technology. 

According to British Steel's President and CEO Xijun Cao, the proposed EAF in Teesside, along with another planned for the company's Scunthorpe facility, could help reduce the company's CO2 emissions by more than 75%.

Preparatory work is already underway, including environmental and technical studies, to ensure the proposals can be implemented as quickly as possible. 

British Steel is also in negotiations with the UK government to secure the necessary support and policies to facilitate its decarbonization efforts. The company is committed to working with the government to reach an agreement. 

The application for the construction of the EAF at the Scunthorpe site will be considered by North Lincolnshire Council in the near future. 

British Steel has promised to support employees affected by the transition to electric arc furnaces, as the changes will result in the loss of 1,500 to 2,000 jobs at the Scunthorpe plant.