Reaction to the Government's Energy Intensive Industries (EII) compensation scheme | CIA

 

 

 

 

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Press Release

The Government have announced today that they will be boosting support for high energy usage businesses - which includes chemical manufacturers - amid spiralling electricity costs.

Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association, which represents the UK’s chemical industry said: “It’s good news and confirms the much needed support on electricity costs for a further 3 years. However, this only helps a handful of chemical sites around the UK and amounts to only a small portion of the policy cost present on their fuel bill, given the huge escalation in gas, power and carbon prices since mid-2021.

“In particular, the doubling of carbon prices over the last 12 months, has seen an increase in indirect cost being passed on to energy-intensive industries like ourselves, through energy bills. With eligibility not being extended to reflect this increase, it is a missed opportunity.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to work with Government - including their promised commitment to look at other policy costs later this year - on this and other measures to help level the playing field opposite our international competitors.” 

ENDS

NOTES

For more information please contact Simon Marsh at [email protected] or 07951 389197.

  • Businesses who make chemical products and solutions are integral to something like 96% of all manufactured goods.  Whether it is ingredients for food and medicines; paints and coatings for cars and planes or materials for mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries, the chemical industry is truly the “industry of industries” – also playing a critical role in the nation’s response to Covid-19 through its supply of hand sanitiser, PPE and vaccine ingredients.

  • Chemical businesses are located throughout the UK, with many of them clustered together in the North East of England, North West of England and Central Scotland.  These factories and laboratories, operated by a highly trained and skilled workforce, make a significant contribution towards the UK’s productivity performance – double that of any other manufacturing industry and triple that of any part of the UK economy.

  • Nearly half a million people are employed in the sector or have roles that are dependent on the sector. Chemical workers typically earn 35% more than other manufacturing industries and 54% more than the average worker.

  • From Runcorn to the Humber Bank; from Teesside to Grangemouth, chemical businesses and their employees right across the country are essential to the Government’s levelling-up agenda.

  • We are the country’s biggest manufacturing exporter, sending goods to the value of more than £57 billion to other countries. The EU represents our most important market, but we continue to work closely with Government to inform and secure UK trade deals with other key chemical markets such as Japan and the USA.

Media & PR enquiries

For Media enquiries, please contact:

Simon Marsh

07951 389197

[email protected]

 

Diana Tamayo 

07885 831615

[email protected]