Biodiesel fuel plant ditched (From Echo)

Biodiesel fuel plant ditched

5:00pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008 in News By Sarah Calkin

A GREEN fuel storage plant will not be built on Canvey amid concerns about the industry and the economic climate.

Sure Green Fuels has withdrawn plans for a biodiesel and glycerine plant at the Oikos terminal, in Haven Road, seven months after the controversial plans were submitted.

Campaigner George Whatley, chairman of People Against Methane, said: “There has been massive feeling against it.

“It would have increased the danger to the island.

“Once again people felt as though Canvey was being used as a dumping ground for the energy industry.”

energy industry.”

Canvey Town Council, the Environment Agency, the Canvey Residents Action Group and Castle Point MP Bob Spink all objected to the plans along with 45 residents.

Dave Blackwell, town council chairman, said: “It was too near to the residential area and we don’t need another hazardous installation on Canvey.”

Sure Green Fuels, which was set up by former Oikos shareholders in January 2007 to focus on developing a biodiesel business, did not want to comment.

But Martin Williamson, of Oikos, said changes in the current financial climate and the industry means it is no longer viable.

Biodiesel, which can be made from a wide range of waste products, had been hailed as a way to cut carbon emissions, but concerns have been raised about just how environmentally-friendly and safe the production process is.