NEPIC is concerned by today’s announcement regarding the closure of Vivergo Fuels, a significant employer and innovator in the UK’s bioethanol and wider chemicals sector. This decision will have a profound impact on the North East, resulting in the loss of highly skilled jobs, disruption to the regional supply chain and the weakening of local industrial capability.
The North East has long been recognised as a hub for Foundation Industries, with bioethanol production playing a critical role in driving forward the region’s green transition, supporting the circular economy and underpinning the resilience of sectors such as transport, food and pharmaceuticals. The uncertainty surrounding Ensus UK further compounds concerns about the future of vital manufacturing assets in the region.
The Government’s recently released Industrial Strategy rightly identifies the importance of Foundation Industries in delivering sustainable growth, levelling up and achieving Net Zero ambitions. However, today’s decision appears at odds with these objectives and highlights the urgent need for coherent, long-term policy and targeted support to ensure these strategic industries are not lost to international competition.
NEPIC calls on the Government to work closely with industry, invest in future-facing technologies and ensure that UK Foundation Industries, including bioethanol, remain at the heart of the nation’s industrial future. We urge Ministers to act decisively to retain manufacturing capacity, safeguard employment and protect the North East’s leadership in sustainable industry for generations to come.