Magnus Gardham
Political Editor
SCOTLAND’S giant coal fired power station, Longannet in Fife, could close
within 18 months if operator Scottish Power fails to strike a deal to
connect it to the national grid, it has emerged.
Sources confirmed the company will
announce its closure next month unless a deal on transmission costs could
be agreed.
The company must give a year’s notice before taking a plant off the grid.
Closure would take a short time longer, sources indicated.
The news came as the Scottish Government stepped up pressure on the UK
Government to intervene.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raised concerns over Scotland’s security of
energy supply in a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron.
The closure of Longannet, which generates about a quarter of Scotland’s
electricity, would raise the prospect of Scotland importing power from
England, a situation that has been rare up to now.
Scottish Power says transmission charges – the price it pays to hook
Longannet up to the grid – are too high.
Scottish Government energy minister Fergus Ewing said: “I welcome that the
Prime Minister says he is taking the issue of security of electricity
supply seriously, but from that assurance must then flow action to assess
the negative impact of UK energy policy and regulatory regime on Scottish
generation.
“I am particularly concerned that he seems relaxed that his energy policies
are contributing to the potential premature closure of Longannet power
station in Fife.
“Given that his colleagues in Scottish Conservatives have recognised the
discrimination against Longannet and the need for secure energy generation
to continue in Scotland, the First Minister has now written back to the
Prime Minister calling on him to increase the transparency around the
effect of UK energy policy in Scotland.
“With hundreds of direct jobs at risk at Longannet, and the viability of
future thermal plants also undermined by transmission charging that is
surely the least he can do.”
A Scottish Government spokesman added: “We understand that unless National
Grid agree a deal, Scottish Power will be forced to take a decision on the
plant’s future next month.”
Longannet faces closure before the end of the decade as a result of targets
to reduce carbon emissions.
However, Scottish Power hopes to keep the plant operational until 2018.
The Scottish Conservatives are using a Holyrood debate today to press for
the construction of a new gas-fired power station to keep the lights on
across the country.
Scottish Power backs the plan in the longer term.
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