LOGANNET power station is to close next year, Scottish Power bosses confirmed today.

Scotland's last coal-fired power station will close on March 31.

The power station employs around 230 staff but Scottish Power said it hoped to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Energy giant Scottish Power blamed high transmission charges for generators in Scotland.

Neil Clitheroe, chief executive of retail and generation at Scottish Power, said: "We have explored every potential option to keep the station open, and we still maintain that Longannet could continue generation in to the next decade under the right economic conditions.

"Our main focus now is consulting with staff to ensure we find the best outcomes possible for all of the 236 impacted employees, many of whom have spent their entire career at the station.

"We would like to thank everyone at the station for their professionalism and continued commitment, and we know that the last few months have been very difficult."

Scottish Power also confirmed it would not be building a gas-fired power station at Cockenzie.

Bosses at energy union Prospect "expressed dismay" at today’s announcement.

Negotiator Richard Hardy said: "The news is a body blow not just to Prospect members at the plant and the economy of West Fife and the Forth Valley, but also to Scotland’s hopes of remaining self-sufficient in energy generation.

"It is extremely disappointing that, despite the efforts of Scottish Power and the Scottish Government, it has not been possible to put in place ways of keeping Longannet open until its original planned closure date of 2020.

"National Grid has forecast very tight margins for power supply this winter so removing a station that generates enough electricity for two million homes is senseless.

"Our members are paying the price for a mechanism that rewards companies building power stations near to London and penalises those in Scotland. Scotland generates 12% of the UK’s total power yet pays 35% of the transmission charges. That is not a good deal for either companies or the customer."

Hardy said Prospect will now focus on working with Scottish Power and the Scottish Government to help as many workers as possible find new jobs.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "This announcement marks an historic, but important step in Scotland’s energy transition.

"While Longannet has served the nation for many years, it is Scotland's single biggest source of climate emissions and a combination of its age, air pollution rules, carbon pricing and transmission charging have made closure inevitable.

"The recent Scottish Parliament inquiry into energy security provided ample evidence from the National Grid and other experts that Scotland’s electricity supply is absolutely secure without Longannet.

"Indeed, Scotland will continue to remain a net annual exporter of power to the rest of Great Britain and an integrated part of the most secure electricity grid in Europe."