UK industry needs another Tarzan
1 Sep 2011
?With a PhD in economics, a degree in natural science and economics, and his rise - via a seven-year stint as an economist at Shell - to the top echelons of UK politics, business secretary Vince Cable is clearly a clever and able politician with, perhaps, a better grasp than most of the pressures facing industrial companies.
For all these attributes, however, Cable’s track record over the past 12 months suggests that he is not in the same league as some of his predecessors, such as Peter Mandelson or Lord Heseltine (aka Tarzan in his political days), when it comes to sticking up for UK industry.
For all these attributes, however, Cable’s track record over the past 12 months suggests that he is not in the same league as some of his predecessors, such as Peter Mandelson or Lord Heseltine (aka Tarzan in his political days), when it comes to sticking up for UK industry.
That this is not happening under Cable’s stewardship is reflected in the problems faced not only by the traditional industries such as oil & gas, chemicals and steel, but also in the newer low-carbon industries that are supposed to be the UK’s ticket to future prosperity or at least a barrier to further industrial decline.
Cable’s track record over the past 12 months suggests that he is not in the same league when it comes to sticking up for UK industry
Our coverage in the News and News Analysis sections of the Sept/Oct issue of Process Engineering suggests that policy drift is hampering the expansion of both biofuels and biomass power projects.
The uncertainty, it seems, is impacting stakeholders at all levels, from the financial players needed to provide long-term investments, such as the Drax plans with Siemens to establish three 300MW biomass power plants, to growers worried about the lack of uptake of biofuel crops given the recent problems on the Ensus and Vivergo projects.
Industry now needs strong representation to ensure a sensible and affordable transition to low-carbon production. Otherwise, the current, head-long drive away from fossil fuels risks turning the UK into a jungle, rather than the promised green oasis.
Patrick Raleigh
Editor
