Humber docks to be boosted by creation of 100 jobs

ABP said storage facilities would be created at its ports in Immingham, Hull and Goole

Up to 100 jobs will be created at docks on the Humber owned by Associated British Ports (ABP), it has announced.

The company has signed a deal with Drax Power Station to handle shipments of wood pellets into Immingham, Hull and Goole over a 15-year period.

Power giant Drax plans to burn huge amounts of wood instead of coal at its North Yorkshire plant over the next few years.

ABP said the contract would "see terminal investments of up to £100m".

The company plans to create storage facilities at the three ports for up to 100,000 tonnes of wood pellets.

It also intends to upgrade its rail infrastructure to enable the shipments to be transported on special wagons.

ABP said it expected up to three million tonnes of wood pellets to be imported via its Humber docks each year.

James Cooper, ABP's group chief executive, said: "Our Humber ports are already at the forefront of the renewables industry with the proposed development of the £200m Green Port Hull offshore wind turbine facility.

"At Grimsby there is continuous investment by leading offshore wind farm operators in the development of Operations and Maintenance bases.

"This investment at Hull, Immingham and Goole looks set to secure the Humber region's position as a centre of excellence for the development of the low carbon energy future".