Drax spokesperson comments on consultative ballot

‘The move away from coal is the right decision for the environment, our communities and our business.’

Coal pile and biomass storage domes, Drax Power Station, 2016

“Stopping using coal is something Drax has been working on for well over a decade. The move away from coal is the right decision for the environment, our communities and our business. We have been talking to our employees and the unions for over two years about the impact coal closure will have on people, because we recognise this is going to be difficult for them and their families. We are consulting with trades unions and employee representatives on an enhanced redundancy package and support is being provided to those affected.

“We gave our employees over a year’s notice – the job losses will take place in April 2021. This means we have time to support those affected to get the best outcomes for them.

“Earlier this year, we announced that we’re talking to the government, trades unions and other industrial businesses in the North about setting up a Zero Carbon Skills Taskforce to help develop the skills needed to enable people in the North to take advantage of future opportunities beyond coal as we transition to a greener economy after the Covid crisis.”

  • Drax’s plans to develop ground-breaking bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) at the power station in North Yorkshire will help boost the UK’s economy following the Covid crisis and support the development of a zero carbon industrial cluster in the Humber region – delivering clean growth while protecting 55,000 jobs.