A glass bottle factory in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, faces reduced competitiveness due to a UK government subsidy for energy-intensive businesses in Great Britain. Encirc operates the facility, which employs hundreds of staff. The company's sister plant in Elton, north west England, qualifies for the scheme, but the Derrylin site does not because Northern Ireland uses an all-Ireland electricity market.

Richard Rodgers, the energy policy official, informed the economy committee of the imbalance. He noted that the Great Britain program relies on charges added to household electricity bills, complicating any similar support in Northern Ireland without increasing fuel poverty risks. Rodgers indicated that the scheme will expand from April next year to cover more firms, potentially affecting additional Northern Ireland manufacturers.

Economy Minister Caomihe Archibald discussed options with major energy users last week and contacted her UK counterpart on the matter. Rodgers stressed the need for cooperation to safeguard local industry, citing examples of sectors that departed and did not return.

Encirc belongs to the Spanish Vidrala Group, which reported profits of 220 million euros on sales nearing 1.5 billion euros last month. Sean Murphy, who manages Encirc, described recent conditions as difficult, driven by market forces and policy shifts across the UK.