THURROCK Council leader Cllr John Kent has written to the government asking them to consider intervening in the possible closure of Tilbury Power Station.
In a letter to Michael Fallon, Minister of State for Energy, Cllr Kent says: “I write following the recent announcement from RWE npower that the Tilbury Power Station in Thurrock is set to close later this year following the company’s failure to secure the necessary investment to support the planned refurbishment works.”
He said the proposal would affect the nation’s long-term approach to energy provision and its ability to meet its energy requirements which have been in the headlines recently.
Cllr Kent said the council “remains committed to playing its full part in generating local growth and providing high quality new jobs, but we are unable to keep pace with the repeated loss of major employers to national economic factors”.
He added: “My primary concern is the impact that this closure will have on Thurrock’s residents and its economy.
“It is little more than a year since the Petroplus Refinery site closed in Coryton, Thurrock with the loss of more than 800 jobs of which 500 were Thurrock residents.
“The closure of Tilbury Power Station will see 300 jobs lost and a further £15m lost from the local economy per annum.”
He said council’s officers and he had held a number of discussions with RWE npower and “I understand permanent closure of the station can be avoided if further investment can be secured”.
Finally, Cllr Kent called for action from the government. He wrote to the minister: “It is clear the immediate support of the Department for Energy and Climate Change is critical to enabling and securing this investment. I would strongly encourage you to work with the operator to ensure that the necessary investment is forthcoming to keep this critical piece of infrastructure open thereby supporting our local economy.”
