Emmet Stagg
Ceist:10 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the serious imminent risk of power cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21811/99]
Priority Questions. - Power Supplies.
I am aware of recent media reports about a possible capacity shortfall. I am informed by the ESB that there is sufficient capacity to meet our winter electricity needs. On this basis, I do not consider that there is a serious imminent risk of power cuts.
The ESB has responsibility currently for ensuring that electricity demand is met. The company has approximately 4,325 megawatts of installed capacity, which will rise to 4,485 megawatts when the final phase of the Poolbeg plant comes into operation at the end of this year. This compares with the expected winter peak electricity demand of 3,700 megawatts.
Continuing growth in the economy has led to an unprecedented demand for electricity. This increase in demand means that new generation capacity, beyond that which is already under construction, will be required by 2001. While there are projects in the pipeline by ESB and others, the ESB is successfully managing the increased demand for electricity.
As I indicated in a reply to a parliamentary question on 26 October 1999, it is important not only for the introduction of competition in the electricity industry but also for the economy's growing needs that new electricity generating capacity is brought onstream at an early date. Until the planning processes are completed, no further movement can take place regarding the construction of new plant.
In that regard, the ESB was told a planning decision on its application would be made in August and Viridian was told a decision on its application would be made in September, but it has now been told one decision will be made in January and the other will be made in February. An Bord Pleanála is an independent body and it has a job to do. I do not want to comment on its decisions. The only comment I will make is that this is a matter of national interest and it has deferred it decisions on these applications for five months.
Is the Minister aware and did the ESB not tell her that amber alerts are now a regular occurrence and that a number of red alerts in the system have occurred? Is she aware that when a red alert occurs we are near to a closedown of a whole section, machinery in factories that require full load trip out and stop production, and that has already occurred? My source for this information is the ESB.
Will the Minister confirm that the interconnector to Northern Ireland is a necessity for the level of supply that is required to keep the economy operating? Will she agree it is a very vulnerable supply? Given that security of supply is essential, will she agree she was wrong earlier in the year in refusing to give authority to the ESB to proceed with its planning and with the development of further capacity? She still has not given the financial go ahead to the ESB to enable it build the power station that is the subject of the planning process?
I want to be clear about this, the ESB got the go ahead to apply for planning, which it did.
That was for planning only. The Minister did not give it the financial sanction that she must give it.
Let me complete my reply.
Certainly.
We cannot influence the decisions of An Bord Pleanála. It was to give its decision on the ESB's planning application in August but that decision has been deferred until January. I had no hand, act or part in that. I have spoken publicly about it and said that while I cannot influence a decision of An Bord Pleanála, where a matter is one of national interest I seek to influence a timely decision so that people can know the position in regard to power supply. I will continue to make that point. I gave the ESB permission to apply for planning, but it cannot proceed until it gets a decision on its application. It is as if it is in a timewarp, so to speak. It must wait six months beyond the projected date for this decision and there is nothing I can do about that.
I was aware this question was tabled and while I have regular meetings with the chairman of the ESB, I had a meeting with him yesterday at which I raised the issue of amber alerts and red alerts which have been reported in the newspapers. He made it clear that the company's capacity of 4,485 megawatts is sufficient to meet winter electricity needs and the winter demand will be 3,700 megawatts.
The delay in giving a decision is leading to worries and fears. If a favourable decision is reached, they should be ready to proceed without any undue delay and that is what we must be ready for.
Does the Minister agree that we are now dependent on the interconnector between the Republic and Northern Ireland to ensure we have a continuous supply? Does she agree it is a vulnerable source of supply given that it has been blown up regularly by the IRA over the years and that the IRA could start blowing it up again at any time? Does she agree it is not tenable to continue in this way?
Is she aware there is only a vexatious appeal which has nothing to do with energy, by Zoe Developments against the ESB's planning application? While I am not asking the Minister to intervene in the decision—
I must call the next question as the time for Question No. 10 has expired.
The chairman informed me that Zoe Developments is the only objector, which is interesting. It was announced on 28 October 1999 that the capacity on the Scotland to Northern Ireland interconnector will be doubled from 250 to 500 megawatts. I agree with the Deputy that it is a vulnerable source of supply.