Biomass hopes are dashed

As Labour Research went to press, efforts were being made to save the Eggborough Power Station in Yorkshire, following a government decision not to provide funds for its conversion from coal to biomass (wood pellets).

Almost as many direct employee jobs will be lost if Eggborough closes next year as will eventually be created to run Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. Thousands more will go in the supply chain unless those campaigning to keep it open, mobilising support among local MPs, are successful.

As recently as November, management at the station were anticipating the imminent start of conversion work as part of a £750 million expansion project.

But, in December, Eggborough was left off a Department for Energy and Climate Change list of 10 projects considered eligible for fast-track access to funding.

Foreign investors are said to be interested, but would want a return on their investment in the form of subsidies.

Phil Whitehurst, national officer for engineering construction at the GMB union, said 800 in-house jobs would go and planned maintenance work due this year is already being hit.

A £60 million investment at Immingham Docks and another one at Teesport (to handle biomass fuel imports) would be shelved, along with rail networks to move fuel from the docks to the power station.

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/save-eggborough-power-station