HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 c850W
1994. Mr. Dowd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans the European Commission has to invest in coal-water mixture research in(a) 1993 and (b)

Mr. Eggar

The European Commission has no plans to invest in coal-water mixture research in either 1993 or 1994.

Mr. Dowd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information his Department has on the use of coal-water mixtures for power generation in non-EC developed countries and countries of the former Soviet Union.

Mr. Eggar

My Department is not aware that coal-water mixtures are used commercially for power generation in eastern Europe or the countries of the former Soviet Union. It is aware that extensive research and development has been carried out in these countries and the United States over several decades and that research and development is continuing in Japan. Japan is thought to be the only country undertaking extensive demonstrations of the technology with around 10 projects initiated over the past few years.

The previous research and development carried out in the United Kingdom indicated that the technology is not economic in this country.