Chemical Business Association: A Blow To UK Industry

Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association, shares his thoughts on Vivergo Fuels’ plant closure, emphasising the significant impact on the chemical supply chain and the broader economy The closure of the UK’s largest bioethanol plant is another devastating blow to both the UK chemical supply chain and the wider economy. Bioethanol is not only a renewable fuel that helps deliver lower carbon emissions but is also a vital feedstock for bio-based chemicals such as bioethylene – a sustainable alternative to fossil-derived materials used in packaging, medical equipment and much more. Losing this capability is not in the national interest. It will increase the UK’s vulnerability and destabilise critical supply chains, with nearly 300 direct jobs – and potentially thousands more across the supply chain and in local communities – at risk. It also further undermines the UK’s ability to maintain and attract both domestic and international investment. Above all, it erodes the resilience and security of supply chains that are essential to the UK’s long-term stability and sustainability. Government Trade Decisions The challenges facing UK bioethanol producers have...