§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to protect the environment of Snowdonia national park from acidification caused by the burning of orimulsion fuel at Ince power station.
§ Mr. BaldryI have been asked to reply.
There has been no increase in sulphur dioxide emissions from Ince power station as a result of the burning of orimulsion. Under agreements made between Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and Powergen, the operators of Ince, less than half of the station's 1,000 megawatts capacity is being used for the burning of orimulsion. Power production from the remaining 500 MW boiler has been curtailed to keep the sulphur dioxide emissions within the previous level for the plant as a whole.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the operator of every large combustion plant will be required to apply to HMIP by 1 May 1991 for an authorisation to continue operating the plant. In setting conditions in an authorisation, HMIP must aim to ensure the use of batneec to prevent or minimise releases of prescribed substances including SO2, and compliance with any plans set by the Secretary of State. These will include the plan for 407W implementation of the large combustion plants directive. The Government's proposals for this will require substantial overall reductions in emissions of SO2 from Powergen's plants.