Port Talbot Steelworks
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Port Talbot Steelworks is a large steel production plant in Port Talbot, Wales. The works cover a large area of land which dominates the south of the town with the blast furnaces and steel products plant building being major landmarks visible from both the M4 Motorway and the South Wales Main Line when passing through the town.
The steelworks was originally a part of British Steel. It is currently owned and operated by Corus Group, but India's Tata Steel (which is part of one of the oldest and largest business conglomerates in India, Tata Group)has offered to purchase all the ordinary shares at a price of £6.08. The Shareholders vote on the offer in March 2007 and,if the shareholders agree, the deal could be concluded in April 2007. Tata will then Own Corus.
On the extensive steelworks site, smoke can be observed rising from the BOS plant and water vapour from the cooling towers, a great distance away. When exiting Port Talbot in an easterly direction, the Abbey Works steel products plant (which is over 1 mile long) can be seen. The familiar 'smokey' smell of sulphur often hangs over this part of the town.
Movie director Ridley Scott quotes the sight of Port Talbot Steelworks at night to be his inspiration for the dark, gigantic buildings in films like Blade Runner. Top Gear have used the Port Talbot steelworks to film, a number of times. Director Terry Gilliam has cited the Port Talbot Steelworks as as a major initial influence in developing the movie Brazil (movie).
