Ramsey Power Station is to be decommissioned, Manx Utilities has announced.

The decision was made following a third-party analysis of the high voltage electricity network supply to the north of the island.

Exhaust stacks at the station in Gardner’s Lane will be removed before Easter this year.

The diesel engines and fuel storage tanks will be removed later in the summer.

Manx Utilities has assured residents in the north that their electricity supply will not be affected by the project by dropping off leaflets to customers nearby.

Its chairman and MHK for Ramsey, Dr Alex Allinson, said: ’Careful consideration and risk profiling has enabled the board to proceed with the Ramsey Power Station decommissioning programme.

’The network is resilient and reliable, enabling us to dispose of the plant which has served Ramsey well since the early 1980s.

’This change clearly demonstrates Manx Utilities’ commitment to reduce carbon emissions as outlined in the Isle of Man Government’s "Responsible Island" policy.’

Engines and generators at the plant have not been operated in recent years and are now 50 years old.

The station had a capacity of producing 3.6 megawatts.

The recent analysis on the security of supply for Ramsey and the north indicated an ’extremely low’ probability of failure while the dismantling takes place due to the configuration of the network, which allows electricity to be back-fed from a secondary route should a fault develop on one of the overhead lines.

The site will remain an operational Manx Utilities site with high voltage electrical equipment providing essential power distribution for the north, as well as ensuring the there is an alternative power generation area in the future.

Manx Utilities has said it aims to minimise disruption to residents and businesses.

It has warned the public not to enter the site as the dismantling and construction work will involve large cranes and equipment, with deliveries of steel to the site by truck.

Plant disposal will include recycling of metalwork, with remaining fuel stocks being reused at Pulrose and Peel power stations.

Manx Utilities plans to sell the engines to operators of similar plant elsewhere.