'We did everything we possibly could to avoid closure'

UNIONS SLAM GOVERNMENT'S 'SHORT-SIGHTED DECISION' AS VIVERGO CLOSURE ANNOUNCED

- By ANDREW SPENCE

TWO trade unions have denounced the Government's decision to not back the UK’s largest bioethanol producer, Vivergo Fuels, as its owner announces its closure.

The Government have argued financially backing the plant “would not provide value for the taxpayer.”

The closure of the plant has been announced after months of business leaders and politicians’ efforts in campaigning for the Government to step in and save the UK's bioethanol industry. The industry has been impacted by the US-UK trade deal which saw the 19 per cent tariff on US ethanol imports removed. Domestic firms, such as Vivergo and Ensus in Redcar, warned that without the tariff they would be forced to close.

The efforts, however, proved fruitless as the Government announced yesterday they would not be backing the firms. A Government spokesperson said: “This Government will always take decisions in the national interest.