Isra-Mart srl:Giant Port Talbot biomass plant celebrates Environment Agency ruling

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Isra-Mart srl news:

The UK's Environment Agency said today that it was likely to relax emissions standards for a planned £400m biomass plant at Port Talbot, clearing one of the major barriers to the facility being built.

Developers Prenergy submitted an application to change some conditions to the Environmental Permit for their 350MW wood-burning power station in August.

In a statement published today, the agency said a detailed investigation had found raising the levels of nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), as well as allowing wood pellets to be burnt with wood chip, would not harm air quality or the health of local people.

Prenergy said it was pleased with the Environment Agency's position, claiming the revised emission limits were still "well within" Agency and European Union standards.

Opponents of the plant have said that burning three million tonnes of imported wood each year will result in significant air pollution, likely to be exacerbated if more polluting wood types are now permitted by the Environment Agency.

"The fundamental objections people have still remain and this decision does not provide any more reassurance," Welsh assembly member Brian Gibbons told the BBC.

Construction of the plant is due to start around the end of the year. When complete, it should provide 70 per cent of the Welsh Assembly Government's 2010 renewable energy target.