The Dutch government may find itself shelling out a whopping €3 billion (around ₹27,000 crore) for the cleanup of the Tata Steel plant located in the Netherlands.

What Happened: The Dutch parliament has approved providing subsidies to Tata Steel to accelerate the renovation of Europe's second-largest steel plant, which has caused significant health and environmental issues in the surrounding area, Bloomberg reported. While the exact amount of subsidies has not been specified, external consultants estimate it could reach €3 billion, according to a spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.

The plant, located in the Netherlands and one of the country’s top industrial employers, has been associated with elevated lung cancer rates and reduced life expectancy in the local population. It has faced multiple fines for emitting toxic raw cokes, a byproduct of heating coal in the absence of air essential for steel production.

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Negotiations between Tata Steel and the government regarding the funding are ongoing, and details of the financial side of the subsidy remain confidential. Tata Steel spokesman Peter van Boesschoten expressed satisfaction with the parliamentary support for making the steelworks more sustainable. He emphasized the need for government support in addition to the company’s own investments in the Green Steel plan to maintain a competitive level playing field within Europe.

The hazardous emissions from the plant have been a longstanding issue, with the government historically taking a lenient regulatory approach to avoid potential job losses. However, addressing these environmental concerns requires costly upgrades to the plant’s infrastructure.

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