31/07/2003

Massive rescue package set to save 10,000 jobs

The government is set to offer a £50 million rescue package to help safeguard over 10,000 jobs in the UK chemicals sector.

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today that Regional Selective Assistance had been awarded to chlorine manufacturer Ineos Chlor to help modernise its Runcorn facility on Merseyside.

Over 2,000 direct jobs at the plant will be safeguarded by the aid, part of a £389 million investment programme by the company – safeguarding around a further 8,000 jobs in associated businesses which are dependent upon the Runcorn site.

The modernisation includes building a new, more efficient, steam-generating plant and the installation of modern computer control systems.

Ms Hewitt said: "This is great news for the UK chemicals sector and the regions which will benefit from today's decision.

"This assistance not only demonstrates the government's commitment to high-skilled, high-value manufacturing but also secures well paid jobs in areas where the unemployment rate is much higher than the UK average."

The investment will make the Runcorn site more environmentally friendly, the government claims. The construction of a modern steam boiler plant will "virtually eliminate" its emissions of sulphur dioxide and will reduce its nitrogen dioxide emissions by 80%.

The assistance is subject to European Commission approval and consists of £40 million grant and £10 million loan.

(GMcG)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 March 2018
300 Construction Jobs To Be Created In Belfast
Around 300 construction jobs are to be created after Radius Housing was granted planning approval for the regeneration of the former Visteon site in Dunmurry.
25 February 2013
Irish Water Creates Over 2,000 Jobs
Guaranteed jobs for small local businesses, graduates and long term unemployed Mr Phil Hogan T.D.
10 December 2012
IT Firm Creates 100 New Jobs
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, today announced that Mandiant, a specialist provider of IT security solutions is to establish an engineering and security operations centre in Dublin with the creation of 100 new jobs.
02 December 2011
Raising A Glass To New Jobs
Irish Distillers will soon create 60 jobs with a €100 million expansion of its plant at Midleton, Co Cork. Thirty of the new jobs will be at the company's Midleton Distillery, with another 30 at its bottling plant at Fox and Geese in Dublin. They will be manufacturing and technical positions.
06 May 2009
Offshore Company Axes Jobs
Around 150 jobs in Aberdeen and Dundee have been axed after an offshore services company ceased trading. Oceanteam Power and Umbilical has been forced to close when the firm's holding company withdrew its financial support. Staff are based in Aberdeen, at workshops in Dundee and offshore.