§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list those projects and industries which have completed or are completing the process of fuel substitution from oil to coal since May 1979; how many such new projects are likely to start in 1981; what has been the capital cost of the projects since 1979 and what Government financial assistance has been available for such projects; how many tonnes of coal were substituted for oil under such projects in 1980; and what is the estimated tonnage for 1981.
§ Mr. John MooreUnder the Department of Industry's energy conservation scheme which ran from June 1978 to June 1980, grants have been made available for 38 projects involving the replacement of oil-fired equipment by coal fired plant. If all these projects were to go ahead, 181MW of coal-fired capacity burning an estimated 80,000 tonnes of coal per annum would be involved. Energy conservation scheme grants would total £1.4 million and capital costs about £5.6 million. Details of selective financial assistance showing the names of the company and the amount of the offer are published quarterly in the Department of Industry's journal "British Business", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Full details of oil to coal conversions in the period from May 1979, but outside the energy conservation scheme are confidential to the industries and equipment suppliers concerned and are not held centrally. Interest in coal use in industry is, however, very high and I understand from the NCB that it has received over 1,000 inquiries regarding conversion to coal and replacement and extension of existing coal-fired plant. If all these proposals were implemented, 5 million tonnes of coal consumption per year would be involved by 1986.