New Delhi, June 7 -- The fire that broke out at Tata Steel's Port Talbot facility in the UK on the night of 3 June has caused "substantial damage" to parts of the plant, according to an executive familiar with the matter, potentially leading to production losses for the steelmaker for at least a month. To offset this hit to production, the company is rapidly shifting workers and operations to its nearby Newport facility.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and will only be established following an inquiry. However, the incident has affected Tata Steel's operations at Port Talbot, a town about 300 kilometres west of London, where it produces a little over two million tonnes of steel a year.

The fire has forced the steelmak...