The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has written to the Government expressing concerns about the halting of CO2 production at a CF Fertilisers plant in the north east.
CF Fertilisers, which supplies 42% of the UK’s CO2, has announced plans to temporarily halt ammonia production at its Billingham plant, which will also cause CO2 production to stop.
CO2 plays a key role in the food supply chain, keeping food fresh as well as being used in the humane slaughter of poultry and pigs. Any disruption in supply could present serious risks to food production and security, and animal welfare.
In light of this news, the Committee Chair has written a letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice MP, requesting information on the length of the production stoppage, if this will impact the resilience of the UK’s food supply chain, and whether the Government is considering providing financial support – as it did in September 2021, when there was a similar risk to CO2 supply.
Sir Robert Goodwill MP, Chair of the EFRA Committee, said: “Recent reports that CF Fertiliser will be halting production of ammonia are worrying, given the knock-on impacts this decision will have on CO2 production in the UK. Any disruption to CO2 supply could have serious effects on food production, national food security, and animal welfare.”