'Bioethanol production plays a vital role in the UK's transition to clean energy'

BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE URGE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT SALTEND PLANT

- By ANDREW SPENCE

THE British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have urged the Government to act swiftly to protect the UK's bioethanol industry amidst fears Vivergo Fuels' Saltend plant could be forced to close.

The plant, which is located at the Saltend Chemicals Park, near Hull, is the UK's largest bioethanol producer. In recent days Vivergo Fuels has called for government action to protect the UK’s bioethanol industry as the company says the recently agreed UK-US trade deal could lead to its collapse due to the removal of a 19 per cent tariff on bioethanol imports from the United States.

Vivergo Fuels claims to support over 4,000 jobs either through direct employment or through its wider supply chain, a figure that includes 160 jobs at the Saltend plant.