Vol. 398 No. 4
100 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Energy if he agrees with the claim made in a media report (details supplied) by the managing director of Aughinish Alumina, County Limerick, that his company could not establish a smelter on the Shannon Estuary because Irish electricity prices are too high; and the percentage decrease in electricity prices which would make this economy competitive.
In other countries the majority of aluminium smelters are supplied with electricity generated by hydroelectric plants. The ESB's average industrial price per unit is some 400 per cent higher than that available to smelters in countries such as Norway and Canada who have an abundant supply of cheap hydro power. It is most unlikely that Ireland or, indeed, most other European countries, would ever be in a position to match these figures.
