|
The company behind the controversial Dublin incinerator has
confirmed it may import waste from outside the capital to
ensure the scheme is viable.
Environment Minister John Gormley has ordered a second review
into the contract between Covanta
Energy Ltd and Dublin City Council over the Poolbeg
plant, designed to burn 600,000 tonnes of rubbish a year.
Despite being at logger-heads with Mr Gormley over the massive
project, city manager John Tierney insisted the local authority
was abiding by Government policy.
During questioning by TDs and Senators, Covanta Europe president,
Scott Whitney, said there was enough waste in the Dublin region
to meet the plant’s capacity. However, when asked if it was
in the firm’s business plan to look at importing rubbish,
he replied - “Yes”.
The Poolbeg waste-to-energy incinerator was controversially
granted planning permission in 2007 and will be big enough
to generate power for 50,000 homes each year.
Mr Gormley faced down staunch criticism from local residents
and politicians after the project was granted a licence in
late 2008 - claiming he was opposed, but could not intervene
in the planning process. He had also campaigned against it
before going into Government.
At the Oireachtas Environment Committee, Mr Whitney faced
repeated questions about where the waste for the project would
be sourced if demand could not be met.
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle said he believed Covanta had
applied to take waste from the south-east region, indicating
a lack of confidence that demand can be met. “That would indicate
to me that ... the intention is to make this plant, to justify
it economically, to make it viable, to source waste from wherever
else on this island,” Senator Boyle said.
|
