Jingye Steel demands full compensation for British Steel takeover

SHANGHAI: China’s privately owned steelmaker Jingye Steel said on Monday it would seek “prompt, adequate and effective” compensation from the British government over its investment in British Steel, after the government took control of the company.

Britain assumed operational control of British Steel from Jingye Steel in April 2025 on what it said were national security grounds. Under plans announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May, the government could fully nationalise the business.

Jingye Steel issued its first public statement on the matter last month, seeking compensation from Britain, 14 months after the government seized control of its UK subsidiary.

“Regrettably, the UK Government has yet to provide any substantive response to Jingye on this matter,” the company said in a statement on its WeChat account. “These extreme, escalating measures — from forced takeover to full expropriation — fully underscore the profound value of British Steel,” it added.