Prospect welcomes reprieve for Cheshire power plant but long-term remains uncertain

A coal-fired power plant earmarked for closure next month has secured a temporary reprieve due to the commitment and professionalism of its staff, their union Prospect has said.

Fiddler’s Ferry in Widnes, Cheshire has secured a temporary contract to provide “ancillary services” to the National Grid until March 2017.

The news provides a welcome reprieve for the 220 highly-skilled staff and equivalent local contractors who faced a bleak future as three of the station’s four turbines were due to close by April.

On behalf of 21,000 scientists, engineers, managers and other professionals in the energy sector, Prospect negotiator Michael Macdonald said: “This lifeline follows engagement with government by owners SSE, Fiddler’s Ferry’s dedicated and committed staff and their unions to find a way forward.

“We understand the contract includes providing ‘black start’ capability for National Grid, the mechanism to recover from a total or partial shutdown of the transmission system, which we warned ministers would be under threat if the plant closed.

“The new contract will also provide security of supply for two million households in the northwest of England at a time when the UK’s capacity margin is dwindling as aging plant comes offline.”

The one-year contract covers one of three available units. Two others will remain “online” as SSE seeks to enter the station’s capacity into market auctions. The fourth will be unaffected as it has a contract to provide electricity over the next winter.

But Prospect has warned that the long-term future at the site remains uncertain and a rapid rethink of UK energy policy is vital.

“Capacity auction results so far have seen large thermal generation lose out. We are losing jobs and key skills,” said Macdonald,

Prospect is calling for:

• an energy transition plan that retains a balanced energy policy, enables investors to plan the transition to a low-carbon economy and ensures workers develop the high-tech skills needed for future energy needs 
• further investment in energy research and development to enable the commercial deployment of clean coal.

Ends

For further information contact:

Michael Macdonald   01924 207890 (w)   07770 304486 (m) [email protected]

Katherine Beirne   020 7902 6625 (w)   07753 933174 (m)  [email protected]