Summon up energy to visit exhibition

8:16am Sunday 22nd April 2007

ANYONE interested in the project to develop a biodiesel plant and renewable energy generator at Blackbridge will have a chance to learn more about the plans at a public exhibition next week.

Agri-Energy, the company behind the scheme, is staging an exhibition at Pill Community Centre on Tuesday, April 24th and Wednesday, April 25th.

Representatives from the company will be on hand to give further information and answer questions between 1pm and 7pm.

Agri-Energy chief executive officer Robert Behan visited Milford Haven last week and was adamant the company would try to reduce impact on local people as much as possible.

He said: "About two thirds of stock will be moved by sea and a single third by road.

"With LNG traffic dropping there will be a reduction of road traffic, but it is an issue and we will talk through the situation with the local council."

Mr Behan said the company was hoping to apply for planning permission soon and would be looking to bring three to four ships a month to a new berthing facility to be built at the old mine depot site.

He also said Agri-Energy's plans would not be affected by the drilling which RWE npower is carrying out for the potential gas power station at Pembroke.

Mr Behan added: "We were fully aware the drilling was going to happen, we have been kept informed and have been able to adapt our plans so they will not be affected."

The plant, which is hoped to open late next year, will take animal by-products and bio-waste streams, including used cooking oil and sustainable feedstocks such as rapeseed oil, and convert them into biodiesel for use by the refineries on the haven.

The first phase of the development will cost £50million and up to 80 permanent jobs are expected to be created.