An East Yorkshire MP has accused the government of leaving the Vivergo bioethanol plant “high and dry” while on a visit to the closure-threatened site.
The Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart, visited the Vivergo Fuels site at Saltend Chemicals Park, near Hull, late last week to show support after warnings the plant could soon be forced to close.
Vivergo Fuels claims the US-UK trade deal, that was announced in May, will have a devastating impact on their plant and have called on the government to act to save the plant from imminent closure. The deal included the removal of the 19 per cent tariff on ethanol imported from the United States, which Vivergo claims could lead to the collapse of the UK’s bioethanol industry as British companies will struggle to compete with the cheaper prices of the US imports.
Last week, workers from the Saltend plant, which is the UK’s largest bioethanol producer, visited Parliament to urge the government to act to save their plant which employs over 160 people and supports a further 4,000 jobs through its supply chain. The bioethanol produced at the site can be used as a renewable alternative to fuels such as petrol and diesel.
Conservative MP Mr Stuart said: “It’s a scandal that the government’s bad deal is selling out this critical industry, which is foundational to green growth in East Yorkshire and beyond. The Vivergo plant is world-leading and fantastically efficient, but can’t access some of the advantages enjoyed by US competitors, such as use of genetically-modified crops and antibiotics which are banned in the UK.
“It’s not right and it isn’t fair to leave our industry high and dry – that’s why the government must act urgently to level the playing field and save this plant.”
Ben Hackett, managing director of Vivergo Fuels, said: “Vivergo Fuels is key to decarbonising UK transport for decades to come, and securing the green industrial future of this region. The government has put that future in jeopardy with the stroke of a pen.
“This is make or break time – we need to see clear commitments from government now to safeguard hundreds of highly skilled jobs at our Saltend plant, protect incomes for 12,500 British farmers, and support over 4,000 more livelihoods in our supply chain.”
(Image: Vivergo Fuels)
The Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, is also expected to visit the plant this week after offering his support for Vivergo’s call for action on social media last week.
A Government spokesperson said: “We signed a deal with the US in the national interest to secure thousands of jobs across key sectors.
“We are now working closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the UK-US trade deal on the UK’s two bioethanol companies and are open to discussion over potential options for support.
“The Business Secretary has met members of the bioethanol sector and senior officials continue to consider what options may be available to support the impacted companies.”
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