HC Deb 15 February 1990 vol 167 cc411-2W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment over what timescale his pollution inspectorate will require existing large combustion plant from(a) the general industrial sector, (b) the refinery sector and (c) the electricity supply industry to meet BATNEEC—best available techniques not entailing excessive cost—requirements for new plant.

Mr. Trippier

Subject to the enactment of the Environmental Protection Bill, integrated pollution control of existing plants will be introduced progressively. There will be a rational timetable, which will be subject to consultation, for bringing categories of process within the IPC system.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the United Kingdom will meet its obligations to cut sulphur emissions under the large combustion plants directive; and how he expects this to be achieved in(a) the general industrial sector, (b) the refinery sector and (c) the electricity supply industry.

Mr. Trippier

The Government set out their general plans for implementing the directive in a consultation paper published in August 1989. A copy is held in the Library of the House. Further consultation will take place before a statutory plan is issued for emissions reductions from existing plants.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the use of low-sulphur coal in power stations represents the best available techniques not entailing excessive costs of reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide.

Mr. Trippier

The use of low-sulphur coal is one of a number of means of reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide and is expected to contribute to meeting the United Kingdom's obligations under the large combustion plants directive. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is preparing detailed notes on the operation of large combustion plants which will specify the SO2 emission standards to be achieved in plants of different sizes and according to the sulphur content of fuel. The notes are expected to be published in the summer.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of plans to burn high-sulphur Orimulsion Venezuelan bitumen emulsion in power stations; and what the overall impact will be on the sulphur and nitrogen budget for the electricity supply industry.

Mr. Trippier

No assessment has been made of plans to burn Orimulsion, but Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is aware of the results of a related test. The sulphur and nitrogen budgets would be subject to the arrangements the Government put in place for implementing the large combustion plants directive.