Fears for power station’s future prompt meeting

Anorth-eastMP ismeeting energy bosses today to discuss the future of Peterhead Power Station.

Eilidh Whiteford, SNP member for Banff and Buchan, is speaking to representatives of theNational Grid and Ofgem.

It comes after Mrs Whiteford and fellow SNP MP Callum McCaig received a response from UK Energy and Industry Minister Jesse Norman to concerns about the power station’s future.

In his letter, Mr Norman said current market conditions made operating the plant “very challenging”.

Uncertainty has dogged the35-year-oldpowerplant since the UK Government controversially scrapped a £1billion plan that could have seen it used for a groundbreaking carbon capture and storage project creating hundreds of jobs.

Although the gas station is capable of producing more than 1 ,000 megawatts of electricity, owner SSE is mulling over options after the site failed to win business in three auctions for supplies of emergency electricity tothe National Grid.

SSE had said its remote location means it is at a “disadvantage” because it pays higher costs to transmit energy to the grid.

“The disproportionate charges imposed on PeterheadPower Station incomparison to other locations across theUKcreate uncertainty for the future of this site and the 90 personnel employed there,” Mrs Whiteford said yesterday.

She added: “The current transmission charge regime puts Peterhead at a big disadvantage.

“I will be meeting today to discuss the very real concerns over the future of Peterhead Power Station.”

Banffshire and Buchan Coast SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson added: “We simply cannot allow for the growing disparity surrounding transmission charges to continue.”