Alternative Energy

Grangemouth will be a world leader in green fuel production for the 21st century thanks to a new multi-million facility. Petrochemical manufacturer Ineos confirmed this week it is going ahead with plans to build an environmentally friendly biofuels production plant at the refinery it bought from BP last year. Grangemouth councillor Bob Spears said: “As fuel from the North Sea runs down, we see biofuel as the way forward. It’s great news this way forward will be created and developed in Grangemouth. “It will also help to secure hundreds of long-term jobs well into the 21st century.”

Harry Deans, Ineos chief executive, added: “The Grangemouth plant will be fundamental to our growth strategy and represents a major, multi-million pound investment in the region. The UK is fully committed to the increased use of biofuels as part of its energy mix and we believe this investment will make an important contribution towards this.”

It is believed the facility, which Ineos hope to have up and running by 2008, will not only provide a substantial boost to the local economy, but also help the environment.

Stuart Ogg, director of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley, said: “This exciting venture will deliver economic benefits today and will deliver sustainable solutions for tomorrow.”

Falkirk Council leader David Alexander said the council had been meeting regularly with Ineos, working towards this week’s announcement for some time. “Ineos has had our support throughout this entire process. This move is consistent with the My Future’s in Falkirk strategy, which includes issues of diversification within the oil and chemical industry. Grangemouth is now going to be a central player in the research and development of green fuels and that is hugely significant.”

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced from vegetable oils that can be blended with diesel and used to power conventional diesel engines without the need for modification. The first step of the Ineos strategy to increase its biofuel business will be to achieve an output of at least two million tonnes of biodiesel at the plant by 2012.

Councillor Alexander said: “Biodiesel is one of the key alternatives to carbon fuels and to have the first production and research centre based in Grangemouth is a major feather in the cap for Ineos and for the town.”

The Scottish Executive is completely behind the project too and has invested £9 million of Regional Collective Assistance cash to assist in its development.

Falkirk East MP Michael Connarty welcomed the Executive’s support. “This is good news for my constituency and the Scottish economy,” he said. ”It is also good news for the environment and the Scottish farming communities. This will be the world’s biggest biofuels production plant when it begins operating. I look forward to the price of forecourt petrol coming down when biofuels are added to all petrol mixes by 2008.”

» Source: Falkirk Today