A new biomass plant, which will cost in excess of £100m, has been secured for Scotland by RWE npower Cogen and Tullis Russell with Government support of £8.1m, the First Minister announced on Friday.

The First Minister visited the future site of the 45 megawatt combined heat and power biomass plant in Markinch, Glenrothes earlier today where he met with representatives from energy supplier RWE npower Cogen and papermaker firm Tullis Russell.

The joint venture will be built and operated by npower, creating 30 new jobs, and will provide Tullis Russell with steam and electricity, safeguarding a further 540 jobs while reducing the papermill's carbon emissions by around 250,000 tonnes each year.

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The First Minister said: "This is tremendously exciting with huge economic and environmental benefits for Scotland. The Scottish Government has fully supported the partnership working of these two leading, international companies, Npower Cogen and Tullis Russell.

"The new biomass plant in Markinch is a significant investment in Scotland and pays testament to our competitive advantage in terms of skills and workforce and the development of energy supplies that are cleaner, greener and economically competitive.

"I am delighted that we have attracted and secured this significant investment. The project complements the Scottish Government's work to make Scotland a greener, wealthier and fairer place to live and do business in. This announcement points the way to the future and shows the resilience of the Scottish economy in the face of international financial pressure."

(GK/JM)