Billingham rubbish-to-energy plant 'to create jobs'

The plant will be built at the New Energy and Technology Business Park

A factory that will turn landfill waste into renewable energy is to be built on Teesside bringing jobs to the region, its owners say.

Air Products will build the plant at the energy and technology business park, near Billingham, with operations planned to start in 2014.

Around 700 workers will build the plant and 50 people will be taken on to run it, Air Products said.

It is hoped it will create enough energy to power 50,000 homes a year.

John McGlade, president of Air Products, said the site would be one of the largest renewable energy plants in the world.

'International firsts'

"Air Products has longstanding expertise in building and operating large-scale industrial gas and energy-related projects on a safe, reliable and cost-effective basis.

"The facility will also create skilled jobs in the area and we are hopeful it will provide an indirect boost to the local economy through the use of local service companies, hotels and other businesses, " Mr McGlade said.

Work on the plant is expected to begin within weeks.

Mr McGlade said the plant would divert 350,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste from landfill every year.

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited enterprise zone welcomed the news.

He said: "The area is famous for delivering and supporting large scale projects and international firsts - it is our heritage and our backbone.

"Now further expansion into new technologies and renewable energy continues to make Tees Valley one of the prime centres for significant inward investment."