Government negotiations 'positive step forward' for Vivergo Fuels

FIRM SAYS SEPTEMBER SHUT DOWN OF AT-RISK SALTEND SITE IS 'NOT A CERTAINTY'

- By MARK PAGE

VIVERGO Fuels is “extremely pleased” to have entered the next phase of negotiations with the Government over the future of the at-risk Saltend bioethanol plant and insisted “closure is not a certainty”.

The facility, located at Saltend Chemicals Plant, east of Hull, has warned it will cease operations by mid-September if the Government does not step in and started a consultation process.

The plant's troubles have come as a result of the US-UK trade deal that was first announced in May and includes the removal of the 19 per cent tariff on ethanol products imported from United States. Vivergo Fuels has warned this will make the UK bioethanol industry unable to compete with cheaper US imports.