Vera Baird

Labour Party | Redcar

Vera Baird QC MP - Answer "at last" from Corus on emissions trading

After two letters from Redcar MP Vera Baird and a month's delay, Corus, yesterday finally told the MP that they "can guarantee" that the Redcar steel plant's allocation of carbon credits will be kept to help it to be returned to operation, later in 2010, following short-term mothballing.

Vera Baird said "This is more good news for the plant, following last week's announcement of a month's stay of execution and the safeguarding of 120 jobs at South Bank coke ovens. Though Corus's reply is long overdue and was obtained about as easily as pulling teeth, it is good to have a guarantee in writing to scotch the rumours that they were closing the plant to profit from selling its carbon credits."

The letter, from the Rotherham Technology Centre, makes clear that the credits are allocated to Corus year on year and that if the plant remains mothballed beyond 2010, they will have to discuss their future CO2 allocation with the Regulator.

"Nobody can predict the future" said Vera " We are determined to keep the blast furnace working but this reassurance offers a helpful backup and, at the same time, is clear evidence that Corus mean what they say when they insist that they, too, are still keen to find a purchaser.