Jobs at risk as power station to stop operating next month

RUGELEY Power Station in Staffordshire will stop generating power next month, following through on a warning its parent company gave in February.

Engie blamed the decision on “the deterioration in market conditions for UK coal-fired power generation” while the company reiterated its strategy to “move towards a less carbon-intensive energy system”.

The site employed 150 people, although Engie said that “many” of those had already found employment elsewhere locally. It is planning a staged reduction in the number of employees on site, ensuring there will be no compulsory redundancies before the end of June, while 30 people will be kept on for the nine-month decommissioning period.

Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “It is sad news to hear that a closure date has been confirmed, but in the current economic environment everyone should be hopeful that all the highly-skilled engineers there will find other, comparable employment within the company or elsewhere.”

In a statement, French power and gas group Engie said: “The closure of coal-fired generation capacity in the UK reflects a wider energy transition that is taking place towards a less carbon-intensive and more decentralised energy system.

“Engie will continue to invest in its energy and services capabilities to support this energy transition as a long-term committed partner for the UK.”

The power station operator said it is in the early stages of exploring a range of redevelopment options for the site. The demolition of the power station is expected to take around three years, with work scheduled to be completed in 2020.

Mr Atkins added: “Staffordshire County Council has a proven track record of working with others to redevelop brownfield sites, including at the former Meaford power station near Stone, and delivering huge infrastructure projects such as i54 South Staffordshire.

“Since the initial announcement that the future of the power station was in doubt we have been begun working with Engie, Cannock Chase and Lichfield District Councils and several government departments to begin developing plans for the future use of this important site.”