Ensus closes Wilton plant but insists not forever

One of the UK's biggest ethanol production plants is due to temporarily close following unfavourable market conditions.

Ethanol producer Ensus owns the Wilton, Teesside-based facility, which will be shut down at the end of May 2011 for up to four months.

According to Ensus, the closure can be attributed to a slump in customer demand, coupled with competition from the US.

However, Ensus goes on to emphasise that the closing is provisional only and all staff will continue to receive their full wages.

'Ensus remains committed to operating and growing our European business. However, to ensure the long-term health of the business for both our customers and our employees, we have decided to temporarily shut down our facility whilst market conditions remain depressed,' Ensus said in a statement. 'We fully expect the market to improve in the coming months as implementation of the regulatory framework for biofuels catches up with agreed EU legislation.'