Show united front for green industry opportunities

Mar 2 2010 by Kelley Price, Evening Gazette

PORT and logistics bosses say more joined up thinking is needed if the Tees Valley is to realise the massive opportunities from the emerging green industries.

AV Dawson is investing around £6m in a new crane, warehousing, equipment and quayside dredging to grow its share in the renewables and biofuels sectors.

The logistics provider and port operator believes that, for them, “grain could be the new steel” now Ensus, Europe’s largest wheat biorefinery, is onstream at Wilton.

The company will store grain for suppliers of Ensus, which sent its first shipment last week.

MD Gary Dawson said: “There are huge supply chain opportunities for the Tees Valley in offshore wind.

“But there needs to be a more co-ordinated approach by individual players in the Tees Valley. By acting more cohesively as a group, we can attract the larger projects.

"It’s fairly fragmented at the moment, which doesn’t do the Tees any favours. We need to show a united front to bring in the investors.”