Tata Steel confirms that it has restarted the second blast furnace at its Port Talbot steelworks, following a multi-million pound rebuild.
Welsh manufacturing is celebrating an important milestone tonight with news that Tata Steel has re-started its second blast furnace at the giant Port Talbot works
It's a major boost for Tata who are one of Wales' most important manufacturers.
It also marks the completion of a massive re-building project that's been seen as a vote of confidence in the future.
Hannah Thomas reports from Port Talbot
The lighting of blast furnace four not only marks the completion of a sophisticated £185 million engineering effort, but also signals Tata's commitment to the future of steel-making in Wales.
– David Jones MP, Secretary of State for WalesThere is no denying the challenges that steel companies like Tata are facing in difficult global markets.
During my recent meeting with the company's senior executives and union representatives in Port Talbot, we were able to discuss how Government and the organisation can work together to ensure Tata' s UK operations can remain competitive.
The restarting of the furnace will go some way towards that aim, and I look forward to making a return visit to Port Talbot to see it in full operational mode in the near future.
Steel giant Tata has announced that production has restarted at the second blast furnace at its Port Talbot site.
The project - which cost £185m - began after Blast Furnace No.4 was decommissioned in July 2012.
A Tata spokesperson said the work has made the furnace "more efficient", along with upgrading its capacity and environmental performance.
In November, Tata announced it would make 584 of its workers in Wales redundant, blaming high energy costs and a fall in global demand for steel.