A GOVERNMENT visit will assess the region’s viability to take on a multi-billion pound clean energy project to create a huge clean gas power plant.

House of Commons Business Committee members will host an evidence session in Teesside this week as part of its inquiry on carbon capture, usage and storage and efforts to kick-start the technology in the UK.

The Tees Valley is among five key industrial areas in the UK being reviewed by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee, alongside Humberside, Merseyside, South Wales and North-East Scotland.

On Thursday, The BEIS Committee will host an evidence hearing at the Wilton Centre Business and Science Park to quiz witnesses representing the five regions.

As part of the visit, members will meet with a range of stakeholders and tour key industrial plants on Teesside, including CF Fertilisers, the Wilton International manufacturing site, and Sembcorp power station.

Anna Turley, Labour MP for Redcar and member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said: “Teesside is a key region for the development of carbon capture, capitalising on the skills and infrastructure in the area and offering the opportunity for this modern, green industry to help secure jobs and investment in the future.

“In the BEIS Committee’s inquiry, we are testing the extent of the Government’s ambitions for carbon capture and examining what actions and policy decisions need to be made to ensure that large-scale use of carbon capture becomes a reality both in Teesside and in other key regions across the UK.”

In November 2018, a consortium of six global energy giants unveiled the first phase of plans to create a clean gas power plant which will capture its carbon emissions and store them in pipelines under the North Sea.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m delighted to welcome MPs from the business and energy parliamentary committee to the Tees Valley.

“I’ll be following the outcome of this Select Committee with interest, to make sure we’re doing all we can to capitalise on our strengths in the sector, push forward innovation and create the types of good-quality jobs that will be around for decades to come.”

The public session on Thursday from 2.30pm is likely to examine issues around the industrial challenges and opportunities of carbon capture and its potential impact on the region’s economy.

Seating can be requested by calling the Tees Valley administration on 01642-524400.