Britain launches 320 - million pound investment scheme for polluting industries

LONDON, Sept 22 - Reuters: Britain has launched a 320-million pound investment scheme to help some polluting industries reduce fuel use and emissions, it said on Wednesday.

The move comes as industrial energy users are coping with record wholesale electricity and gas prices which forced some companies to stop production.

Steel companies, food and drink manufacturers, paper producers and others will be able to apply for grants of up to 30 million pounds to invest in low-carbon technology, such as more efficient boilers and heat pumps or technology to capture and store carbon emissions.

We can drive innovations and investment across the UK economy to power the green industrial revolution. For most polluting and energy-intensive business, however, this will mean a big change in the way they operate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.

Britain, which has a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, has significantly reduced emissions from the power sector but is finding it harder to reduce industrial emissions.