Markus Campbell-Savours MP welcomes news that the Government has awarded £4.5 million grant to Futamura Chemical UK Ltd in Wigton.
The cash is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to support low carbon projects in energy intensive industries through the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), underlining its commitment to clean energy power mission and the importance of decarbonising industry.
A total of £4,486,851 has been awarded to Futamura in Wigton, a leading global manufacturer of sustainable cellulose films and materials that employs 270 people in the town.
The money is part of a £14m project that will see the Wigton plant convert waste gas to energy.
The grant will:
- Reduce carbon emissions
- Improve efficiency and cut energy costs
- Support jobs in Cumbria
- Promote growth as part of HM Government’s wider economic plan
Markus Campbell- Savours, Member of Parliament for Penrith & Solway, welcomed the news, saying:
“I congratulate Futamura on securing this investment, one of the largest grants to be issued in this round of IETF funding.
This government is committed to helping industry reduce its energy consumption and this project will enhance the sustainability and future of this 90-year-old business.
This is a huge boost to Wigton and the hundreds of workers employed at the site.”
Sarah Jones MP, Minister for Industry, said:
“Supporting businesses to reduce their emissions is core to our plan to achieve net zero while growing the economy as part of our Plan for Change.
These companies represent some of the best of business innovation -using new technologies to improve how we do things, become more sustainable, employ people in the local area, and keep making the products we need.”
Adrian Cave, MD of Futamura Chemical UK, said:
"I don’t think in my career, there has been a project that I have been more excited about! At Futamura we are passionate about our NatureFlex and Cellophane products, and that includes ensuring we continually evolve and utilise greener manufacturing processes, to further reduce our environmental footprint. Transformational projects such as this WSA installation invariably are expensive and have a medium to long term payback. Companies like ours do require support financially and this IETF energy efficiency grant has resulted in this project coming to fruition. We are very grateful for this support."
IETF is a government fund that supports the development and deployment of technologies that enable businesses with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future.
The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero IETF Phase 3 press release is here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-energy-transformation-fund-ietf-competition-winners/ietf-phase-3-spring-2024-competition-winners