ENERGY Secretary Chris Huhne yesterday insisted all was not lost in the battle to stop the closure of the Alcan plant in Lynemouth where 515 jobs are at risk.
The minister, who was challenged by Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery in the House of Commons over what was being done to save Northumberland’s largest private employer from closure, promised to publish a package of support for businesses such as Alcan before Christmas.
But he admitted he feared the site’s owners, Rio Tinto, may have already made their minds up to close it.
Mr Lavery said the plant was facing closure because of green taxes and high energy prices, and renewed his call for the Government to bring forward its pledge to help energy-intensive industries. Rio Tinto Alcan responded saying it would consider “very carefully” any such package if it was announced within the 90-day consultation on its plans with workers and unions.
Challenging the Energy Secretary, Mr Lavery said: “What assurances can the Right Honourable Gentleman give to the workforce at Rio Tinto Alcan that the package of measures which have been promised, and promised and promised again with regard to energy-intensive industries will be sufficient enough to keep the plant in operation and maintain the jobs, plus 3,000 jobs in the supply chain?”
The Energy Secretary said he shared the Labour MP’s concerns, adding: “I have met the executives from Rio Tinto Alcan that deal with that particular plant.
