THE contribution of one of East Lothian’s largest employers to Scotland’s energy output has been recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

About 550 full-time EDF employees work at Torness Power Station, alongside 180 full-time partners.

The nuclear power station, which started generating power in 1988, is due to close its doors in 2028.

Martin Whitfield, South Scotland MSP, praised the contribution of the power station, near Dunbar, at Holyrood last Thursday.

He said: “We have a huge amount of knowledge and expertise in the nuclear industry in this area, including a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.

“However, Torness is currently scheduled to stop production in March 2028, ending the generation of nuclear power in Scotland.

“The closure of Torness would leave us without a reliable baseload for electricity generation and potentially harm our future energy security. So I welcome the news that EDF Energy has outlined new plans seeking to extend the station’s life beyond 2028.

“Keeping Torness producing clean, reliable energy for longer would be good for local jobs, the economy and Scotland’s energy security.

“It would also buy us more time to explore options for developing new nuclear capacity, with all the economic and environmental benefits that would bring.”

An excerpt from the motion, which was backed by nearly a dozen parliamentary colleagues, reads: “That the Parliament. . . understands that Torness Power Station is Scotland’s last remaining nuclear power station, and that, over its lifetime, it has produced enough power for every home in Scotland for 29 years and saved 98 million tonnes of CO2 emissions; further understands that Torness is the single largest electricity generator in Scotland, and the most reliable and lowest carbon electricity generator; welcomes EDF’s reported ambition to extend the life of Torness beyond March 2028 for jobs, energy security, bills and carbon saving, which in turn, it believes, will be a huge boost for East Lothian and across Scotland.”