Archived press release

Kilroot to pollute - full inquiry demanded

8 September 2005

Environmentalists have called for a full inquiry into the future of Kilroot power station as permission was granted to the American owned plant to install new pollution control technology [1].

Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, John Woods, said:

"On the face of it, installing new plant to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions is a good thing. But in the strange world of Northern Ireland electricity production the result will be massive carbon dioxide pollution and a large financial bill for electricity users.

"If Kilroot installs this new technology, it will be able to continue to operate for another 20 years as one of the UK's five most inefficient power stations. It will continue to contribute 20% of our carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring that Northern Ireland will be the part of the UK that does least to tackle climate change."

Mr Woods concluded:

"It is now up to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to conduct a full inquiry, as they are empowered to do [2], into the implications of Kilroot's plans. Kilroot may have cleared the technical hurdle of planning permission but the wider issues of energy policy and climate change have yet to be properly taken into account."

Friends of the Earth also criticised the Department of the Environment for failing to argue the case against Kilroot on the basis of the effects on climate change at the recent Planning Appeals Commission hearing. John Woods commented:

"DOE put up a pathetic performance, simply stating that UK Government policy was flexible enough to allow Kilroot to continue to produce carbon dioxide at current levels. This is nonsense - Government policy is to reduce emissions and Northern Ireland must play its part."

Friends of the Earth believes that Kilroot's future should be as a gas-fired station; as a back-up plant operating on reduced hours; or it should be closed.

Notes

[1] (back) Decision of Planning Appeals commission 6 Sept 05 to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation plant
[2] (back) Article 39 of the Electricity Order

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust