Weightmans’ has advised Ligna Biomass Limited in a project for the £100m biomass terminal planned for the Port of Liverpool, owned by Weightmans longstanding client, the Peel Ports Group. The terminal will handle up to three million tonnes of wood pellets a year as part of the decarbonisation of Drax power station.
Weightmans advised in the drafting and negotiation of the contract for the supply of 2 Continuous Ship Unloaders ("CSU’s") manufactured by Swedish company Siwertell AB, which transfer the wood pellets from the vessels onto the conveyor belts to be taken into the new facility - a key part of the process at the port.
Weightmans worked alongside other legal advisors to ensure the multi-million pound contract million was integrated into the overall legal suite and would satisfy funding requirements.
Weightmans Construction Partner, John Cleaveley, who worked on the account said:
"We were delighted to have advised in relation to this significant investment, which is an important part of the long-term development of the infrastructure of the North of England and a significant contributor to promoting sustainable energy supplies. Working on this contract brought together our experience in construction, utilities, marine and insurance to enable our client to keep to programme and budget for this project. I would like to congratulate Ligna, Peel Ports Group and their partners in making this facility a commercial reality."
Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports Group, said: "As a business, Peel Ports is investing £300m to create the UK’s most centrally-located deep-water container terminal at the Port of Liverpool. In addition a further £100m is being invested to create a new biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool, which will fuel the Northern Powerhouse by providing the wood pellets for Drax power station as part of the largest decarbonisation project in the EU. The dealings with the complex contract process on this project for Ligna were simplified significantly by Weightmans’ sophisticated expertise across a variety of disciplines.
