-NFUS ALERT PRECEDES AUGUST DEPOT WORKS HIATUS -
NFUS is encouraging all farmers who use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to check their supply status as news emerges of a supply hiatus while maintenance works take place at one of Scotland’s major gas terminals.
The terminal at St. Fergus will shut the gas pipeline to Fife for three weeks from 25 August 2012 with alternative supplies during this period only available from refineries in England at an extra cost of between 2.5 and 5ppl.
LPG suppliers have been contacting their customers but any grower who has not received notice of this should contact their supplier who may be able to arrange an earlier delivery or offer storage until the LPG is required. It is estimated that around 1,000 Scottish farmers use LPG in their grain dryers.
NFU Scotland’s Combinable Crops Committee chairman, Andrew Moir said:
“While news of this potential disruption to LPG supply is disappointing, farmers can head off any trouble now by ensuring with their supplier that their harvest needs will be covered. Your supplier may be able to deliver early or to store your LPG until it is required.
“Given the particularly wet summer we’ve had, farmers will undoubtedly have to dry their crops, and with energy prices already high, bills are going to be challenging without having to pay extra to haul gas from terminals that are further away. Please make sure, therefore that even though you may be busy catching up with work during the occasional dry day that you make time to arrange your supply before 25 August.”
Ends
Contact Sarah Anderson on 0131 472 4108