§ Mr. Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Energy what reductions in the coal 182W burn of the electrical generating industry are expected to follow the building of Drax B power station and the consequent closures of other stations.
§ Mr. BennThe CEGB expects Drax B, operating on base load and normal availability in the mid-1980s, to burn about 4¾ million tonnes of coal per annum. It would displace about 2 million tonnes coal equivalent of oil in oil-fired power stations and also about 3½ million tonnes of coal in older low-efficiency coal-fired stations, making 5½ mtce in all. There would thus be a net increase in coal burn of about 1¼ million tonnes per annum, and a substantial saving at the same time.