Orimulsion (Hansard, 6 March 1992)

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, the type and quantity of fuel used by the electricity generators is an operational matter for the companies concerned, subject to emission limits imposed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, is it true that a half a million tonnes of that fuel were burned last year and that PowerGen and National Power have contracted for another half a million tonnes? Is it not the case that the Government's own pollution watchdog and the National Rivers Authority have forecast that, if that fuel continues to be burned, it will both poison the rivers and gravely increase the amount of acid rain?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, without the necessary safeguards, it may indeed be the case that orimulsion would have the effect that the noble Lord describes, but it is for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution to make sure that nothing is burned that would have the effect that the noble Lord suggests.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, is it not the case that there is particular concern about the burning of that fuel in Pembroke, where the Government have been advised of forecasts that, if that fuel is burned at the Pembroke station, many of the most beautiful areas of our country will be despoiled through the increase in acid rain? Do the Government intend to do anything to protect both the countryside and the people before rather than after that happens?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, perhaps I may say a word about Pembroke. Under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, National Power applied for consent from the Secretary of State to fit electrostatic precipitators. I cannot comment in too much detail on that as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has a quasi-judicial role in deciding the application. National Power also requires an authorisation from HMIP before it can burn orimulsion at Pembroke. An application has been made and HMIP has served a formal notice on the company requiring further information to be provided. The Government have established a strong regulatory framework under the Environmental Protection Act. It would be wrong for them to second-guess that body and we should be open to criticism if we did so.

§ Lord Donoughue
My Lords, in addition to the important environmental considerations that have been raised by my noble friend Lord Hatch—and the acid rain threat to Wales and the high sulphur emissions over Pembroke cannot be over-emphasised —does the Minister not agree that the power generating companies' longer term proposals to import up to 10 million tonnes of that tacky substance are part of the deeper problems of sourcing the United Kingdom's energy consumption? Are not the policies of the privatised generating companies, such as the proposed massive imports of orimulsion, the massive imports of foreign coal and the dash for gas, short-term and contrary to our national interests? Does the Minister agree that basically they arise from the lack of a national energy policy? Do we not need planned distribution of energy use in this country, with a diversified portfolio of sources, to include domestic coal with cleaner technology?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we have discussed coal at length recently. We wish to have the largest coal industry that is compatible with that industry being economic. The noble Lord, Lord Donoughue, says that we do not have an energy policy, but I should have thought that our policy was fairly concise. We have liberated the generators to seek the best markets and we have strong regulations to control them. The party opposite seeks to increase energy prices without any long-term environmental benefit, which, besides having a debilitating effect on the economy, shows a certain disregard for the poorer members of our community.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, the Minister has given me a very fair answer and I am glad that the Government are aware of this matter. However, given that the Minister has referred to the inspectorate and to the provisions that it observes, does he accept that those provisions and safeguards were set before the extent of acid rain was known?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, that is perfectly true. Some of the provisions pre-date the Act, but they have been increased. Perhaps it will help the noble Lord if I write to him about the conditions that HMIP would impose for the burning of orimulsion, which are too long to speak about now.