asked the Minister for Energy if any monitoring takes place of the calorific heat value of coal; the interest, if any, his Department have in relation to coal in terms of value for money; if any efforts were made to evaluate the comparative values of different fuels; if he is aware of concern in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fuel Values.
271.
The Department of Energy do not monitor the calorific value of coal or of any other fuel. The calorific value of imported coal is normally written into the purchasing specification, however. I am informed by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards that proposals for monitoring the quality of imported coal are being prepared, in consultation with the National Board for Science and Technology. The institute also tell me that they are prepared to determine, on payment of an appropriate fee by any interested party, the calorific value of all types of fuel including coal,
All Irish coal importing companies are subject to detailed price control. Each company must submit to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism a detailed price increase application in support of any price increase which they propose to implement. These applications are considered by the National Prices Commission who make recommendations in each case. Price increases, where approved, are sanctioned primarily to compensate the coal importing companies for increased costs incurred by them, for example, freight and other external costs as well as internal operating costs. Details of all cost increases incurred must be documented fully before they are admitted for price compensation purposes.
The National Prices Commission or the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism have not related pricing to a particular standard for coal but in this regard I would point out that the standard of the bulk of coal imported into this country lies between very close bands. The IIRS and An Foras Forbartha during the past 12 months have made assessments of the value for money of fuels used for domestic purposes. These assessments or rankings of the whole range of fuels have shown that the apparent value for money of the cheaper solid fuels is only realised when the appliances are of high efficiency. This factor is regarded as more important than the normal fluctuation of quality that may be encountered in the coal supplies, within the narrow calorific value bands referred to.
Concern regarding the quality of coal received over the winter of 1979 stemmed from difficulties in obtaining suitable supplies of a suitable grade of coal for domestic purposes from the United States at relatively short notice, a problem which was accentuated by the steeply increased demand. The supply position has now largely stabilised and the quality of coal on offer for next winter should give no cause for concern. Questions relating to the price of coal are, of course, a matter for my colleague the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism.