Royal backing for biofuels mission

Jul 18 2008 by Paul Gannon, Evening Gazette

BIOFUELS producer Ensus took the opportunity to bend the Royal ear over political pressure on the industry during a tour of the Wilton site by Prince Andrew.

John Billington, operations director for the emerging £250m wheat-to-bioethanol plant, which is due to go into production next year, said: “It was the first time he had been to a biofuels facility of this scale.

“He’s much better advised now of the issues the biofuels industry faces and informed of the difference between good biofuels and less good biofuels.”

The Prince, who was touring Wilton yesterday in his capacity as Business Ambassador for Britain, was hosted by site owner Sembcorp Industrial Utilities’ Group, which partially supplies the site with electricity generated from the first in a series of biomass power stations it is planning for the UK.

Describing Wilton as “vital to the UK economy” the Prince said: “Learning more about it has given me greater knowledge to be able to fight your corner in various places and encourage new inward investment.”

He appeared to acknowledge Ensus’ argument that using British wheat does not contribute to rising global food prices.

“Most importantly, you are using raw materials - whether that be British wheat, oil or gas, from the UK,” the Prince said.

“I will continue to see what I can do for your industries as I travel around the UK and overseas.”

Ensus, which argues that a fast track accreditation scheme is needed to allow companies using sustainable biofuels to make the most of market opportunities, has warned that future investment in green fuels on Teesside is threatened by inconsistent government policy.

To join the Gazette’s Back Our Biofuels campaign, go to nebusiness.co.uk and follow the link.