A TEESSIDE steel maker has warned the Government to stop talking and prove its commitment to helping the industry survive.

SSI UK, in Redcar, says the sector needs more backing as it battles to overcome high energy bills, cheap Chinese exports and lower market prices.

The firm, which rescued the former Redcar British Steel plant in 2012, last week told The Northern Echo the steel industry is fighting for its life, as China’s economic woes compound market pressures.

Highlighting energy costs, the company said ministers’ words of reassurance only go so far, and called for the Government to back up claims it is doing all it can to keep businesses’ bills down.

Worries over power prices litter the steel sector, with SSI UK’s fellow producer Tata previously revealing crippling costs are forcing it to look at cutting 720 jobs across Yorkshire.

US billionaire Gary Klesch, who long courted Tata’s Long Products division, which employs about 750 North-East workers, also cited a Government failure to act on expensive energy prices when he pulled out of the deal earlier this month.

Cornelius Louwrens, SSI UK’s business director and chief operating operator, said things must change.

He said: “It isn’t a level playing field, and business rates are hugely uncompetitive.

“We welcome the fact the Government has come out and said it supports manufacturing.

“But we would like to see some action to support these words.

“We receive incredible support from our Thailand owners, but they ask us why the Government is not supporting us more?

“They are not used to that in Thailand.”

The loss-making firm had earmarked 2015 as a turning point, with bosses eyeing their first profit.

However, Mr Louwrens has admitted the situation means it is unlikely to do so.

The company supports about 2,000 direct jobs, a further 1,000 contractor posts and has 50 apprentices, and has been smashing production records, with its blast furnace breaking the plant record for daily tonnage.

But Mr Louwrens said it is suffering from lower steel prices, with sales down from about $500 a tonne to below $300.

He added: “The industry is still weakening and I don’t see it turning this year.

“The steel sector has gone into a tailspin; this is not a SSI UK thing.

“We are doing the best we can, and when you get a bit of breathing air you can see the work being done here is bearing fruit.”