Gordon Brown praises region but gives no cash pledge
Jul 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
Brown powers on
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown began his visit to the region yesterday by calling in at a Northumberland power station.
Mr Brown paid a late afternoon visit to Lynemouth for a whistle stop tour of the Rio Tinto Alcan facility, which employs 630 people.
The prime minister was introduced to staff by managing director Wyn Jones and facility manager Vaughan Campbell.
Mr Brown was told how the power station generates the electricity needed to produce aluminium which is done at Alcan’s neighbouring Lynemouth smelter.
He heard that the company has been at the forefront of research and development in carbon capture and storage (CCS) or ‘clean coal technology’.
Yet in the current economic climate, the prime minister was told Rio Tinto is not willing to commit funding to such a major project, and instead hopes to secure European Union cash that is currently available for the demonstration of CCS technology.
John McCabe, corporate affairs director at the site, said: "It was a great pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister to Lynemouth today and to have the opportunity to showcase not just our existing plant but also the potential to demonstrate CCS technology in the North East of England.
"In the current economic climate, Rio Tinto cannot commit to funding CCS demonstration, hence the need to secure the EU funds that are currently available.
"However, the company does consider coal to be a major part of the future global energy mix as it is affordable, reliable, and in abundant supply."
