Tata Steel’s Dutch division said on Nov. 13 that it would cut about 800 jobs at its IJmuiden plant in an effort to boost profitability.
Tata currently employs about 9,200 people in IJmuiden on the Dutch coast, 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Amsterdam.
“Despite all efforts by Tata Steel to improve its market position and reduce costs, more needs to be done,” the company said in a statement.
“Also in light of the transition to a cleaner company, where significant investments have been made and will be made.”
The restructuring would mainly affect managerial and support staff, and was necessary to maintain a competitive edge as the Dutch steel plant moved to more sustainable production methods.
Tata’s steel plant accounts for about 7% of the Netherlands’ total CO2 emissions, making it the country’s largest single polluter.
The company is working with the Dutch government on plans to switch to greener ways of making steel, but has yet to reach an agreement on the support it will need.
In its latest plan, Tata said it would replace production based on coal and iron ore by 2030 with metal scrap and furnaces running on hydrogen, without providing financial details.
