Saltend plant at risk without intervention after US trade deal

VIVERGO FUELS BOSS BELIEVES 'TIME IS RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT'

- By ANDREW SPENCE

THE UK's largest bioethanol producer has warned it may be forced to shut down within days unless the Government intervenes.

Vivergo Fuels, which has a plant at Saltend Chemicals Park, near Hull, has written to wheat growing farmers in its supply chain to inform them that wheat purchases will be scaled back from next month to meet only existing contractual obligations. The company says that, without Government action, the plant will no longer be viable, and wheat purchases will have to end.

Bioethanol is used as a renewable alternative to fuels such as petrol and diesel. It is a plant-based material that is produced by fermenting and distilling crops such as wheat and corn.