Skip the NI Direct Bar

Green sector will help grow our economy - Empey

13 May 2009

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today highlighted that the ‘green’ economy will play an important role in future jobs creation.

The Minister was speaking as he visited Londonderry firm, Rural Regeneration, to learn about the particular skills requirements of this growing sector.  This development company specialises in designing sustainable renewable energy and waste management systems using short rotation willow trees as a multifunctional tool.

He met with company chairman Dr. John Gilliland, OBE, to discuss the potential for biomass production in Northern Ireland; the  type of jobs likely to be required in the ‘green' economy and the skills requirements for such jobs.

During a tour of the premises, Sir Reg was shown some of the technology involved in the renewable biomass energy process.  The Minister commented: “With our over reliance on the increasingly costly and dwindling resource of fossil fuels, innovative ventures such as this will allow our companies to retain their competitive edge.  I am  particularly interested in the skills requirements for this industry and having discussed these today, I will be doing everything possible to ensure that we have the skilled people needed to undertake the various roles here in Rural Generation Ltd and in other similar companies.”

In addition to carrying out work across Ireland and the USA, the company has recently been short listed to develop projects with the Canadian government and the County of Imperial Valley, California.   Congratulating Rural Regeneration on its international success, Sir Reg said: “Given the current economic situation, it is encouraging to hear that Northern Ireland companies are continuing to receive recognition on a global scale.  I wish the company every success for the future and look forward to hearing how these contracts progress.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. For media inquiries please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872 or out of hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.