The pipes, which were imported from India, were found to be corroded. They will now have to be removed from the plant, which was close to completion. The plant was due to open in December last year but Alstom confirmed this week the plant will not open until December 2009.
Local MP Gary Streeter told CJ: “The pipes were ordered from India after samples had met the necessary standards but the pipes which were delivered and fitted on site have been found to be faulty and are basically rusting so they need to be dug up and replaced.”
Streeter said a business park development next to the site is being held up by the delay to the power station. “It is dependant on the power station opening and means the 2000 jobs created by the business park will also be delayed.”
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In a joint statement client Centrica and Alstom said: “"As is the nature of large, complex projects, revisions of the program are not unusual."
Alstom is facing strike action at another power plant site this week. The GMB union is threatening to ballot its members for a national strike after finding documentation proving a Polish subcontractor at Alstom’s Isle of Grain site is paying £4 an hour below the nationally agreed rate.
The Langage site was also subject to industrial action last year over Alstom subcontractors replacing British workers with foreign workers.
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GMB threatens national strike over underpaid Grain workers
