The taskforce had its first meeting on Monday (24 August) and agreed to produce a recovery plan to support workers, businesses and communities hit by the closure of the 2.4GW plant, which Scottish Power confirmed would be in March next year.
Politicians, including the Dunfermline MSP Cara Hilton, local MP Douglas Chapman and Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing, and representatives from Scottish Power, trade unions, local councils and other stakeholders, attended the meeting and all agreed to produce a “masterplan” for the long-term future of the site.
Ewing said: “The plan will support workers to find new jobs, mitigate the effects on the supply chain, produce a masterplan for the long-term future of the Longannet site and consider how to create sustainable employment in the local area.
“That work will take a number of months to complete and I welcome the commitments made today by all parties to work closely together to address the issues constructively.”
Around 270 employees at Longannet face uncertainty over their futures, and the Prospect union estimates a further 1,250 jobs in related industries are also under threat.
Scottish Power generation director Hugh Finlay added that the meeting was “constructive” and that “the taskforce will have an important role to play going forward”.
He also said Scottish Power’s priority was to “find the best outcomes for everyone affected by the closure of the station”.
The energy giant said in March this year it would be forced to shut down the plant after 46 years of service after National Grid opted to award a crucial voltage support contract to rival energy generator SSE.
Without the contract Longannet is unable to make a profit due to a combination of high carbon taxes and high transmission charges, which can be as high as £40 million in Scotland.