Aluminium makers urged the Government to trim “punitive” energy taxes yesterday at a meeting with Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon.

The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) is concerned UK firms are increasingly uncompetitive compared with Chinese, Indian and other European businesses.

They presented the minister with a study suggesting EU legislation has left European firms paying €228 (£189.7) more per tonne than competitors.

Simon MacVicker, President of ALFED and also managing director of Bridgnorth Aluminium in Shropshire said: “What we need the British Government to do is cut the domestic energy taxation that puts us at a disadvantage to our European partners and ‘bang the drum’ in Europe for the re-industrialisation agenda, so that we once again become globally competitive.”

He added: “Energy taxation is the one thing that’s really set us back as an industry.”

Along with the European Aluminium Association, ALFED also wants the UK Government to raise the idea of cutting regulatory and energy costs at the next European Council meeting in February.