THE work of staff at Torness Power Station in helping maintain the nation’s power supply during the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised at the Scottish Parliament.

EDF Energy employs more than 600 members of staff at the power station, to the south-east of Dunbar.

Now, their work during the coronavirus crisis has been recognised at Holyrood after the county’s MSP tabled a motion thanking members of staff.

Iain Gray had spoken to Robert Gunn, the station’s director, who outlined the measures taken to ensure Torness was operational throughout the national emergency.

Mr Gray said: “Every Thursday during this pandemic we have rightly paid tribute to NHS staff, carers and other key workers who have continued working throughout the current crisis.

“Among the unsung key workers are those working in the utilities, keeping vital services like power, water and telecommunications running.

“This group includes the 600 plus staff at EDF’s Torness power station.

“When I spoke with the station’s director recently he explained how the plant has been helping to ‘keep the lights on’ during the crisis.

“Of course, Torness already had a detailed plan in place for the eventuality of a pandemic, and has managed to continue operating uninterrupted throughout the lockdown.

“A workforce well used to putting health and safety first have adopted stringent measures allowing the plant to keep producing electricity.

“Indeed, through the coronavirus crisis the plant has delivered one of the longest continuous periods of generation since it was commissioned.

“Not only that, it has also contributed to the response to the crisis in other ways, including donating a large number of face masks to one of Scotland’s largest care providers.”

Mr Gray thanked members of staff for their efforts, as well as other dedicated workers in the utilities industry.