Graham is working hard with Vivergo to find ways for the UK’s largest bio-ethanol plant to remain in business following the British government’s decision to allow US bio-ethanol producers access to the UK market, with 1.4 billion litres exempt from tariffs.
Vivergo in Saltend and Ensus in Redcar are the only bio-ethanol plants in the UK, providing the green fuel which is mixed with petrol to lower emissions. Vivergo also produces animal feed and CO2, providing thousands of UK farms – many of them in East Yorkshire - with a market for £150million of wheat that doesn’t make the grade for bread or pasta.
Vivergo employs around 160 people directly at Saltend and supports around 4,000 more jobs in the supply chain.
Graham has been active in supporting the plant. He has asked questions of the Department for Business and Trade, lobbied Trade minister Sarah Jones, met workers in Parliament and joined apprentices in presenting a petition to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
He visited the plant to meet Managing Director Ben Hackett and is in regular communication with the plant. He met Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood to press the case for the government changing regulations around bioethanol to increase the market.
The Government has conceded that it has given away Vivergo’s existing market in the UK as part of the UK-US trade deal. Graham is now pursuing a meeting with the Department for Transport to push for an expansion of the domestic market by transitioning from E10 fuel (which must contain 5-10% bioethanol) to E15 (which must contain 10-15% bioethanol) – a move which Vivergo says would increase the UK market by up to 700 million litres.
Graham said, “We have a bio-ethanol industry in the East Yorkshire which provides farmers with a market for their wheat, supports 4,000 local jobs in the supply chain and directly employs 160 people.
“It’s given young people fantastic opportunities through its apprenticeship programme and has made itself into an important employer locally.
“That’s worth saving – and it’s worth saving because it has a real future for fuel, animal feed and providing CO2.
“That’s why I’m working hard to protect those jobs by protecting the bio-ethanol industry.
“I know the government is taking it seriously and I’ll continue to be a loud voice in Vivergo’s corner.”
Ben Hackett, Managing Director of Vivergo, said, “"We are grateful for all Graham's support as we work to save the Vivergo plant and the thousands of jobs it supports across the region. With the right support from government to level the playing field, the UK bioethanol industry has a bright future and can continue its important role in decarbonising transport for decades to come."
