MORE than 1,000 jobs could be coming to Thurrock after the Government earmarked two power station projects for funding.

Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander made the announcement on Tuesday that plans for a gas-fired power station in Corringham and a waste-wood burning plant in the Port of Tilbury could get a share of £33billion as the Government seeks to secure the country’s energy supply for years to come.

The announcement comes 15 months after plans for the Gateway Energy Centre, a 900 megawatt gas-fired station on the London Gateway Logistics Park, in Corringham, appeared to be dead due to a lack of funding.

Intergen, the company behind the plans, required Government funding to make the project viable.

In the last four years, both plants received outline planning permission and hope to begin building next year.

Between them, the two projects would create 900 construction jobs and 120 jobs once the plants are fully operational.

Dirk van den Esschert, director of Tilbury Green Power, the company behind the plant in Tilbury, said: “TGP is very pleased to have pre-qualified for the Government’s infrastructure guarantee.

“We have been progressing the detailed design of the facility with our project partners and are working hard to bring together a finance package to ensure it goes ahead.

“The Government’s announcement is a positive step forward for TGP, proves that the project is sound and will help us to bring the financial aspects together.”

A spokesman for Intergen confirmed the Government has still not decided whether gas stations – or others – will form part of its electricity market reform.

The spokesman said: “We are ready to build, but we need the Government to decide which forms of electricity supply it will be using for its reforms.”

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price said: “I welcome the Government’s announcement.

“We are going to have an energy crisis in this country which is going to lead to higher taxes and higher bills unless we secure investment in energy generation.”