The Cast Metals Federation (CMF) has called on UK government to recognise the critical role that metal casting plays in UK manufacturing by making significant changes to the proposed British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS).
Although cast metals underpins many of the UK’s priority industrial capabilities, foundries have largely been omitted from the proposed list of sectors to be supported by the scheme – which is expected to deliver a £35-£40.00/MWh reduction in electricity costs (around 25 per cent) for eligible businesses.
In its response to the government’s BICS consultation, the CMF highlighted the negative impact that the proposals as they currently stand would have on UK foundry competitiveness and manufacturing capability.
While welcoming the government’s recognition that UK industrial electricity prices are damaging competitiveness, the CMF warned that the approach proposed through BICS is inefficient, introduces unnecessary administrative complexity, creates policy challenges, inhibits innovation and is clearly divisive.
Instead, the CMF has called for a simpler and fairer solution, supporting the recommendations of the MAKE UK report Tackling Electricity Prices for Manufacturers – reducing electricity costs for all industry by removing policy costs altogether, and adopting a sensible approach to how those non-commodity charges are funded in a way that supports the government’s Industrial Strategy.
For more detail visit: www.castmetalsfederation.com