Today, Sky News’ Economics Editor Ed Conway published a feature on the challenges for the UK’s chemicals sector, featuring insight from SCI CEO Sharon Todd.
The piece introduces the core principles of basic chemical production, using the examples of sodium chloride, ammonia, and ethylene – versatile chemicals that are used to manufacture everyday products such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, fertilisers, explosives, and clothing.
Despite the crucial importance of basic chemical production, facilities across the UK producing these chemicals have been closing over recent years.
Of the facilities featured in the piece, some continue to produce these vital chemicals, but many have closed. Of the facilities that are still operating, there is pessimism about their long-term futures. It is estimated that the UK and wider Europe has lost more than 90% of its basic chemical production capability, and this has a knock-on effect on industrial resilience, greatly increasing the reliance on imports, and increasing the risk of disruption.
While further policy intervention is still required to safeguard basic chemical production in the UK for the future, the sector may also see great benefit from new technologies such as AI. This aspect is represented in the piece by Dr Linden Schrecker, CEO of SOLVE Chemistry.
The need for action is clear. The Government’s Industrial Strategy, and the merits of AI, may greatly improve the lot of the chemicals sector, but unless change comes soon, there may be no chemicals sector left in the UK to revive.
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