Simec Atlantis Energy Ltd said a project to convert the Uskmouth power station in Wales has been delayed following a referral to the Welsh government, sending the company's shares into freefall.
Uskmouth is built and permitted to burn coal and SAE is seeking a variation to this permit “to switch to a sustainable fuel source with significantly lower carbon emissions”.
Discussions with the independent Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to convert Uskmouth from coal power to running on fuel pellets derived from non-recyclable waste had been going on for a year and NRW had previously indicated that it was minded to award the variation to the existing permit, SAE said.
However, it has now been notified that NRW has been directed to refer the application to the Welsh government, following a reported internal legal review.
“This further delay is a blow to South Wales and this vital green energy project at a time when the country is facing an energy crisis with intermittent renewables and a dependency on imported gas causing unsustainable price rises for homes and industries across the UK,” SAE said in a statement.
The company said it will consider all available legal options and “will seek to ensure that the Welsh government understands how critical this project is to South Wales, Newport, to key industries and the hundreds of employees whose jobs are at risk”.
SAE shares plummeted almost 36% to 1.48p in mid-morning trade.