Protection measures for plant hit by lightning

The damage following the lightning strike was fixed by summer 2024, Severn Trent Green Power said

A food waste recycling plant that suffered a major gas explosion when it was hit by lightning has had a proposal to improve protection approved.

The fire at Severn Trent Green Power's (STGP) plant near Cassington, north of Oxford, was seen for miles around in October 2023.

No one was hurt but the company said it had "identified the need for additional lightning protection" following the strike.

Oxfordshire County Council has approved a plan for 16 large masts, 15 of which will be mounted to digesters.

Another four telescopic air rods will be mounted to the site's reception building.

They will be made from hot-dipped galvanised steel, which the company said has been chosen for its durability and resistance to corrosion.