Regional Select Committee Visits NEPIC
Local MP’s as a regional select committee were on tour recently when they visited a number of companies in the region. Stan Higgins and John Brady from NEPIC hosted committee members Dari Taylor MP, Dave Anderson MP, Phil Wilson MP, David Weir and Anwen Rees on July 21 at Wilton. NEPIC were joined by representatives from the process sector, biofuels and Teesside University to discuss a range of projects, initiatives and issues that impact the process and renewable sectors.
The committee heard that the process sector is energy intensive and concerns remain about UK utility prices in relation to our European counterparts. In the emerging renewable sector, we must have consistent policy in order to help build on current investments such as Biofuels Corporation, Ensus, Sembcorp, Greenergy and MGT. NEPIC outlined a North East project (Integrated Biomass To Syngas) that seeks to meet 2020 emissions targets set out in the Renewable Energy Directive by utilising biomass to produce a large scale production facility for fuels and/or chemicals.
Time was also taken to discuss how Government could seek to underpin the future of the chemical sector on Teesside and the fact that industry needs support for step change innovation. Representatives agreed that a UK manufacturing strategy is urgently required to provide leadership, resources and priorities for this key area within the UK economy.
21/Jul/2009
