§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all coal-fired power stations funded from the aid-trade provisions and from the regular aid programme, since 1979, indicating the size of the power stations; which power stations use flue-gas desulphurisation technology; which power stations use other technology to limit sulphur dioxide emissions; and the sulphur content of the coal used; and for which stations an environmental impact assessment was carried out before aid was approved.
§ Mrs. Chalker[holding answer 24 July 1990]: The following list gives information on all coal-fired power stations funded from the aid-trade provision and from the regular aid programme since 1979.
Date on which financing agreed Country Site Size Sulphur content in coal percentage 1982 Botswana Morupule 3 x 30MW 1.5 (1.06 + 2.0 blend) 1982 Brazil Jacui 350MW 0.54—1.06 1988 China Yueuang 2 x 350MW 0.28—0.31 1984 India Balco 4 x 67MW 0.3—0.5 1982 India Rihand 2 x 500MW 0.3 1980 India Titigargh 4 x 60MW Not available None of the power stations is fitted with flue gas desulphurisation equipment or uses other technology specifically to limit sulphur dioxide emissions, other than by generally maximising the overall efficiency of the plant. Sulphur contents are significantly lower than coal currently burned in United Kingdom power stations which has typically up to 3 per cent. sulphur content.
The ODA did not carry out formal environmental impact assessment on these projects but it examined, in the course of appraisal, environmental factors, including the results of environmental assessments carried out by the recipient Governments, in order to establish the likely impacts of the projects.
Since 1988 all projects have been subject to ODA's new environmental appraisal system.