§ Ms Dari TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on proposals by Burlington Resources (Irish Sea) Limited to build a combined-cycle gas turbine power station at Rhosgoch, Anglesey and by Kent Power Limited for the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine power station on the Isle of Grain, Kent. [98158]
§ Mrs. LiddellA direction has been given to Burlington Resources (Irish Sea) Limited under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 in response to their notice under section 14(1) of that Act to prevent the building of a 560 MW combined cycle gas turbine power station to be fuelled by natural gas at Rhosgoch, Anglesey. Although the scheme would make significant heat supplies available, these would not be sufficient to demonstrate the efficiency levels for combined heat and power set out in the October 1998 White Paper. As well as the benefits which would result from the heat utilisation, the project offers other distinct environmental benefits. However, taken together, I do not consider that these are sufficient in this instance to outweigh the Government's concern over new gas-fired generation.
Consent, under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, has not been granted to Kent Power Limited (Enron Europe Ltd.) for the construction and operation of a 1,200 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station on the Isle of Grain, Kent. The company's application will be put on hold unless a case is put forward for a decision to be taken now.
I have taken these decisions in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071). I would be prepared to review these decisions, if requested, when the stricter consents policy announced in the White Paper is lifted.
479WCopies of the relevant Press Notice and letters are being placed in the Library of the House.