Work to continue despite job losses

£100 million incinerator project goes on following tyre factory hammer blow

The firm behind the £100 million replacement for the Baldovie incinerator in Dundee said construction work would continue.

The combined heat and power facility is being built by energy company MVV in partnership with Dundee City and Angus councils and Michelin, who were to use heat generated from the plant.

Yesterday Paul Carey, managing director of MVV Environment Baldovie, would not be drawn on the economic implications on the incinerator project if the Michelin factory closes.

He said: “Clearly this is devastating news for Dundee. We are considering the situation but the construction of the new energy from waste combined heat and power facility will continue.”

The new incinerator will last for 25 years and burn around 110,000 tonnes of waste each year, most of which will come from Dundee City and Angus councils.

Part of the plans for the Forties Road incinerator include a steam pipeline from Baldovie leading to the adjacent Michelin factory.

When the construction work started in June this year, Michelin factory manager John Reid highlighted the competitive gains it would give the factory.

“We operate in an extremely competitive world and this innovative project offers us a real gain in terms of industrial performance while at the same time contributing significantly to improving the environment,” he said.

Around 300 people will work at the site during the construction of the new facility, which is due to begin operating in late 2020. Once up and running it will directly create 37 jobs and around 70 indirect jobs.

MVV entered into a contract with Dundee City and Angus a year ago to manage their residual waste, the waste left over after recyclable materials have been removed.

The German firm is operating the existing energy from waste facility at Baldovie while it constructs the modern replacement.

The new plant will be more efficient and better for the environment than the current incinerator.

MVV Energie chief executive Dr Georg Muller previously said: “This facility is an essential part of the successful circular economy; a key element of the transition to a resourceefficient economy and environment.

“It offers significant advantages for all three partners and therefore for the region as a whole.”

MVV has more than 50 years of experience in building and operating waste management facilities in Germany and is one of the top three companies in the country in its field.

The firm has also been successful in winning the South West Devon waste contract and in obtaining planning permission to build another EFW combined heat from power facility in Plymouth.