§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane from disused coal mines; and what estimate she has made of the cost of tackling such pollution. [102069]
§ Mr. MeacherAs yet there is no reliable measure of the amount of methane escaping from disused coal mines. Current estimates vary from 0.3 per cent. to 2 per cent. of UK greenhouse gas emissions. My Department, in consultation with the industry, have commissioned an independent study to provide an accurate estimate of methane emissions from this source which will report in two years time.
Defra supported the coal mine methane industry in its application for exemption from the climate change levy. This application was successful, and secured for the industry an 80 per cent. discount on the levy subject to state aid approval from the European Commission. This will improve the viability of the industry.
Since the launch of the UK emissions trading scheme in April 2002 Defra has worked with the industry to overcome obstacles to their entry into the scheme. Defra is also engaging with the European Commission on their proposal for extending the EU emissions trading scheme 504W to include a project mechanism in due course, which may allow credits to be claimed for coal mine methane projects.
The Government consider that extending the renewables obligation to include coal mine methane would not be consistent with the objectives of the obligation, since coal mine methane is, self-evidently, not a renewable. However, we are very supportive of this industry and are keen to help it expand so that it can continue to reduce emissions throughout the UK.
Until there is an accurate estimate of what is actually being emitted from disused mines in the UK, it is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the cost of tackling the issue.