Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Intensify our focus on energy strategy
Immediate progress on key infrastructure projects, along with an updated Energy Strategy, are critical to economic growth and stability, the NI Chamber has warned.
Vital projects, including the North South Interconnector and Belfast Power Station, must be urgently progressed to ensure long-term security of electricity supply and savings to consumers.
The business organisation, which represents over 1,200 members, was speaking following the latest NI Chamber & SONI Energy Forum event, hosted by manufacturer Ulster Carpets at its Portadown this week.
More than 60 members of the business community joined the event to discuss future energy policy, with keynote speakers Neasa Quigley, Partner at Carson Mcdowell, and Joe Reynolds from the Energy Strategy Divi- sion at the Department for the Economy. NI The
Alpha Group, which specialises in office and educational furniture and layout design, has expanded with a new
The showroom in Glasgow. has Belfast-based company recently completed projects at several univesities. Chamber’s Head of Policy Chris Morrow said: “Immediate progress around key energy projects is essential to create greater certainty for business and employers and help firms plan for growth and expansion – particularly large energy users. A secure, long-term energy supply is a fundamental requirement if we are to attract investment and create employment opportunities over the coming years.
“We also need to see an updated and detailed Energy Strategy. Given the rate of change and evolving technologies, as well as the need to shift to a low-carbon economy, it’s critical Northern Ireland has an agreed pathway as to how we’re going to not only meet our future energy challenges, but also take full advantage of the many opportunities in this area.”
Ms Quigley of Carson Mcdowell added: “Northern Ireland urgently needs an agreed Energy Strategy that supports long-term investment decisions.
“Certainty on energy policy is a fundamental issue for businesses in all sectors, but confidence is being undermined by the absence of an energy policy beyond 2020, coupled with the lack of a functioning Executive and clarity on Brexit’s implications for the energy market.
“We need a new strategy dealing with matters like better energy efficiency, smart energy networks and electrical vehicles that is fully endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive.” MARCON has been awarded the fit-out of the new Dippy on Tour exhibition at the Ulster Museum.
It has long been the first sight to greet visitors to London’s Natural History Museum but soon Belfast patrons can look forward to being greeted by the iconic Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton.
Dippy the Diplodocus is set to take residence in the Ulster Museum as part of a road trip across the UK, as he ventures out of London for the first time since 1905.
Marcon will manage the fit-out of the exhibition, manufacturing the setworks and co-ordinating the installation of the display cases, AV and interactives throughout the space.
Dippy will be visiting eight different venues on a mission to inspire five million natural history adventures.
THE four-star Roe Park Resort in Limavady is investing £500,000 in its award-winning facilities in response to growing demand for its range of wedding and event services.
This follows a recent £1million investment in its 18-hole parkland golf course. The design project will be led by Dungannon-based interiors expert Philip Rodgers.