'˜We joined RHI in good faith'

The family-owned firm, which was founded in 1951, said it invested “hundreds of thousands of pounds” to have four biomass boilers installed under the scheme.

It employs 90 people at its factory shop and warehouse on the Lurgan Road, and is one of 18 local companies (BT62-BT67) named in the list of beneficiaries.

Bedeck is listed as having so far received just over £100,000 in subsidies for the boilers, which were applied for in June 2015.

Financial director Matt Myers said the Magheralin site had previously used old, inefficient oil boilers to heat the premises and had reached the point where they needed to be replaced.

He said, “They needed an increasing amount of maintenance and it was having a negative impact on efficiency and the environment.

“RHI seemed to be a good scheme which would help the profitability of the business in what is a very competitive environment.

“We took out a bank loan for most of the value of the boilers, and entered the RHI scheme in good faith, so the negative publicity has been disappointing.”

He added, “We use less fuel with the biomass pellets than we did with the oil, and only use the heating when we have to.”

The list, released by the Department of the Economy, includes the names of all companies that have received support payments under the scheme above a threshold of £5,000, since it opened in 2012 to February 28, 2017.

There is no suggestion that any of those on the list are in breach of either the spirit or the letter of the scheme.

Other companies listed include Legmore Farms, which raises poultry and is registered at the offices of McCleary & Co at Quaker Buildings, High Street, Lurgan. It has received a total of £293,496 for four boilers.

Silverwood Enterprises, at Silverwood Industrial Estate, has received £86,957 for three boilers and Sainsbury’s Craigavon received payments of £24,221.85 for one boiler.

The list published last week is below in full:

Firm: Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd; Date of application: 06/11/2015; Postcode: BT75; Boiler type: Solid Biomass Boiler; Size (KWTH) 99; Total Payments at February 28, 2017: £27,600.66

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 06/11/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £30,507.19

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 06/11/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £34,416.23

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 13/07/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £50,543.44

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 13/07/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £52,297.88

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 13/07/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £53,369.70

Acheson & Glover Precast Ltd 13/07/2015 BT75 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £53,475.84

ACL Developments Ltd 06/11/2015 BT80 Solid Biomass Boiler 43 £7,209.13

Agricultural and Industrial Services 2012 Limited 09/11/2015 BT62 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £21,627.16

Alexander Scott & Son Ltd 31/07/2015 BT46 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £9,504.53

All Spares ATVs Ltd 15/10/2014 BT70 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £46,174.37

All Spares ATVs Ltd 30/09/2015 BT70 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £28,484.74

Alternative Heat Ltd 23/01/2013 BT31 Solid Biomass Boiler 75 £6,995.34

Alternative Heat Ltd 10/02/2016 BT31 Solid Biomass Boiler 199 £7,099.18

Alternative Heat Ltd 10/06/2015 BT31 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £14,937.99

Altmor Limited T/A Valleyview Enterprises - Pig Unit 14/10/2015 BT81 Solid Biomass Boiler 95 £30,440.15

Altmore Farm Ltd 20/10/2015 BT70 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £45,866.87

Altmore Farm Ltd 20/10/2015 BT70 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £44,786.34

Altmore Farm Ltd 20/10/2015 BT70 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £43,032.60

An Charraig Mhor GFC 27/10/2015 BT79 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £14,880.24

Annagarvey Holdings Ltd 09/06/2015 BT77 Solid Biomass Boiler 65 £8,333.41

Antrim Estates Company 10/02/2016 BT44 Solid Biomass Boiler 195 £11,958.15

ARC Healthy Living Centre Ltd 02/07/2015 BT94 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £15,421.47

Armagh Business Park Ltd 17/10/2015 BT60 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £30,909.58

Armagh Cider Company Ltd 16/11/2015 BT62 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £9,826.61

Armagh Cider Company Ltd 16/11/2015 BT62 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £17,365.98

Augher Castle Limited 12/10/2015 BT77 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £15,097.56

AWF Poultry Ltd 08/11/2015 BT78 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £16,194.13

AWF Poultry Ltd 08/11/2015 BT78 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £17,084.47

B P Mc Keefry Ltd 05/04/2014 BT46 Solid Biomass Boiler 99 £34,067.13