Why a new zero-carbon UK steel plant offers hope and a headache

The ironworks in Saudi Arabia's coastal city of Dammam has had an unusual journey: it has crossed the Atlantic Ocean - twice. It was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2006 from Alabama, US. Before that, the plant's home was in the UK. The plant can produce about 1m tonnes a year of direct reduced iron (DRI), a material that can be used in green steel production. Decades after the plant left the UK - shipped in 28,000 pieces - British ministers are now considering reversing course and funding a similar facility once again. However, the government's DRI ambition is controversial…