HL Deb 29 March 1984 vol 450 cc467-8WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will indicate the current plans and agreements concerning the proposals of the Du Pont Co. (UK) Ltd. to construct and operate an electricity generating plant at Londonderry, and in particular information relevant to the—

  1. (a) size and mw generating capacity;
  2. (b) respective percentage of total capital costs being financed by (i) private sector, (ii) European Community and (iii) Govern- ment/public funding;
  3. (c) anticipated effects on the Northern Ireland Electricity Service (NIES) regarding future needs and strategy at the Coolkeeragh power station, and the number of NIES employees in the Londonderry area;
  4. (d) contracts, orders and jobs arising from the plant construction and supply of capital equipment that are likely to accrue to Northern Ireland companies, for example, Harland and Wolff, GEC (Larne) and Davidson (Service Engineering).

Viscount Long

In December last year Du Pont (UK) Ltd. made the decision to build a solid fuel fired boiler plant at their Maydown site which will produce both steam and electricity for the Du Pont complex. The new installation will reduce energy costs at Maydown by about 25 per cent. and produce an electricity generating capacity of 14 mw supplying on average about 75 per cent. of the plant's electricity requirements.

The cost of the electricity generating element of the project will qualify for Northern Ireland standard capital grant. The balance of the cost in relation to the new boiler plant, in addition to qualifying for standard capital grants from the Department of Economic Development, will attract assistance under the national Coal Firing Scheme administered by the Department of Trade and Industry. I understand EC assistance for this project is not available. It is not customary for government departments to divulge in advance amounts of grants offered to an individual company as this is a matter of commercial confidence between the company and the departments concerned. Offers of assistance under the Standard Capital Grant Scheme and the Coal Firing Scheme are published in British Business in the first quarter after the first payment is made.

I am advised by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service that its future needs and strategy in relation to Coolkeeragh power station will be unaffected by Du Pont's decision to construct and operate its own electricity generating plant at Maydown, and that the number of NIES employees in the Londonderry area will similarly be unaffected by the project.

The question of contracts for the supply of capital equipment arising from the project is a matter for Du Pont. However, I understand that the company will award contracts on the basis of the quality and efficiency of the product, the cost, and the timing of delivery. The company has indicated that the project will provide work for up to 140 construction workers.