Energy business Eon UK -which runs Powergen and Central Networks in the Midlands - has pledged to further cut carbon emissions in the battle against climate change.

The company yesterday committed itself to reducing its carbon intensity by ten per cent by 2012, compared with 2005.

It has previously unveiled plans to close the Ironbridge coal fired power station, in Shropshire, which employs 100 staff.

Dr Paul Golby, chief executive, said: "We view climate change as a very real threat and so we'll be taking a number of practical steps to reduce the carbon intensity of our business, so reducing our impact on the environment.

"We've already reduced our carbon intensity by more than 20 per cent since 1990 and I believe that this commitment is both necessary and achievable but I also believe that it won't be easy."

To reduce carbon intensity - defined as the amount of carbon, or CO2, emitted per unit of electricity generated -the company is making changes to the way it generates electricity.

The company is shutting two old coal-fired power stations, Ironbridge and Kingsnorth in Kent, by 2015.

Ironbridge employees and its 85 contractors were informed of the plan last year, a spokeswoman said.

Any redundancies would be voluntary.

The company has also applied to build two new gas-fired power stations at the Isle of Grain in Kent and at Drakelow in Derbyshire.

Eon UK is conducting a feasibility study into building a new coal- fired power station at Killingholme in Lincolnshire, which will have the potential to capture its carbon emissions.

The company - which employs around 800 people at its Coventry headquarters -aims to continue to expand its green generation operations.

It is currently building the UK's largest dedicated bio-mass power station at Lockerbie and has around 1,300 mega watt of wind farm schemes in various stages of development.

It has also recently created a marine arm to investigate the possibility of tidal and wave power.

Through Central Networks, the company runs the electricity distribution network in central England, delivering supplies to 4.9 million customers from the Lincolnshire coast to the Welsh border.

john_marsden@mrn.co.uk