The government has agreed a three-month restart of the Ensus bioethanol plant in Wilton, Teesside, to assure the UK’s critical supplies of carbon dioxide (CO2) required for Britain’s nuclear, packaged meats, fresh food and healthcare industries.
The plant ceased production in Autumn 2025 and was set to close permanently; however, the government said the company has agreed to keep it on standby to provide resilience for critical sectors.
Disruptions to European fertiliser production have significantly reduced the reliability of CO2 imports. Rising gas prices driven by the Iran conflict, plus unplanned maintenance at several European CO2 producing sites, mean that the UK’s market for CO2 risks being undersupplied.
The government said it has been in negotiations with Ensus since September to temporarily retain the plant and its operation, to give it the optionality to restart production when needed.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the Government is also taking steps to diversify the UK’s long term CO2 supply and secure resilience in the sector.