Monday, 11 Jul 2011
Italy's biggest utility Enel hopes to start its long term project to convert a major power plant to coal from fuel oil in June 2012, betting on new laws to bypass a top court decision blocking the project.
Italy's top administrative court, the State Council in May cancelled government clearance for Enel's EUR 2.5 billion (USD 3.58 billion) Porto Tolle conversion project which was opposed by environmentalist groups.
An Enel spokesman said that "Enel is committed with ministries and regional authorities to find a solution to start works. It is reasonable to think that it would be possible to start works in June 2012, depending on all necessary administrative procedures.”
Authorities of the north eastern region of Veneto, where the Porto Tolle plant is located, have drafted a law which would allow the conversion of oil fuelled power plants to coal or any other fuel if it cuts greenhouse gases emissions by 50%.
The group's spokesman said that Enel hopes Italy's Environment and Industry Ministries would give their approval to the new regional law by March next year.
Enel had planned to start at the end of this year converting its 2,640 megawatt oil fuelled Porto Tolle plant on the River Po about 100 km from Venice, to use clean coal technology, part of its drive to cut carbon emissions.
(sourced from Reuters)
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