A row of projects are being built on the 4,500-acre Teesworks site in the center of the row. Photo: Lorne Campbell
Energy Giants BP and Equinor have demanded a guarantee against corruption from the UK's largest free port following Labor's 'smear' campaign. — East of England, as part of a zero churn project.
This follows accusations by former Labor Party leader Andy Macdonald that there was «industrial-scale corruption» at the site.
Ben Howchen, the Conservative mayor of the Tees Valley, said the accusations were untrue and constituted a «smear» campaign by Labor.
He called Mr Macdonald, MP for Middlesbrough, a «coward» for making the remarks in Parliament where they are protected from prosecution for defamation.
Understandably, these allegations worried BP enough and Equinor to require clauses to be included in commercial contracts.
The joint venture between the two companies was selected among the government's first projects to introduce the first «clusters» of industrial carbon capture at the end of March.
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Teesworks directors understand that they have stated that the assets at the site were not acquired due to an «unacceptable act».
“They also did not hide or pretend, and will not hide or pretend the origin, location, disposal or possession of assets, rights or values,” the guarantees also say.
Unusual legal obligations leave signatories liable for damages if the position set out in the guarantee is not true.
BP, Equinor declined to comment. A spokesman for Teesworks said they could not comment on the commercial arrangements.
In April, Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, said she would write to the relevant secretary of state following accusations made in Parliament by Mr MacDonald.
Citing a Private Eye article, McDonald accused developers Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney of profiting financially from the site. The Labor MP said that Mr Hoshen had allowed Mr Musgrave and Mr Corney to pay only £100 for land which he claimed was worth £100m. Joint Valley Authority, and Mr. Musgrave and Mr. Corney.
Mr. McDonald asked Ms. Mordaunt «what the government's plans are for a full investigation of this industrial-scale corruption.»< /p>
Responding to the accusations at the time, Mr Hoshen said: «I would absolutely demand that Andy speak to the public, outside of Parliament, with the same statements — because he won't, because he knows that if he does this, he will be sued for defamation and defamation and he will lose.”
The combination with BP and Equinor is one of a series of industrial projects being built on Teesworks, a 4,500-acre site near Redcar that used to be here one of the largest metallurgical plants in Great Britain was located.
Ben Howchen, Conservative Mayor of Tees Valley, has denied accusations of corruption at the Teesworks project. Photo: Charlotte Graham
The redevelopment of this site was a key element of Mr. Houchen's city hall. A close ally of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Hoshen defeated Labor at the box office — most recently he won 73 percent of the vote in the May 2021 mayoral election — albeit with a low turnout of just 34 percent.
Other Teesworks assets include the Redcar loading terminal, the deepest water port on the east coast of England and the Northumbrian Water treatment plant. It surrounds one of the UK's largest ports, PD Ports.
Work is also underway to build a £300 million offshore wind turbine plant.
It is hoped that carbon capture facilities Teeswork will be able to store up to 10 million tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of more than three million homes.
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