| Press
Release
Pilot
co-combustion plant approved
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (November 25)
granted a specified process licence to Green Island Cement Company
Limited (GIC) allowing it to operate a pilot co-combustion plant
in Tap Shek Kok, Tuen Mun.
A spokesman for the EPD said that according to the licence conditions,
GIC could operate the pilot plant for a cumulative period of 16
weeks maximum.
"In addition, the plant can incinerate no more than a daily average
of 40 tonnes of municipal solid waste," he said.
The purpose of the pilot plant is to collect data on co-combustion
technology for a research project being undertaken jointly by GIC
and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
"After studying all the relevant information, including GIC's air
pollution control plans and the views of the public, we have come
to the conclusion that GIC's pilot plant will have an insignificant
effect on meeting the Hong Kong's Air Quality Objectives. We have
also concluded that any emissions from the pilot plant could be
controlled to the extent that they would be unlikely to have any
adverse health impact on the public.
"In addition to self-monitoring by GIC, the data collected will
be transmitted to the EPD on a real-time basis for surveillance,"
the spokesman noted.
An environmental monitoring committee will be set up by GIC. It
is proposed that the committee will consist of members nominated
by the Tuen Mun District Council as well as academics of the HKUST
and staff of GIC.
The monitoring
committee will keep a close watch on the performance of the plant
throughout the trial period.
More details of GIC's application and the EPD's considerations can
be found on the EPD website at www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/news_events/what_new/gic_application.html.
Ends/Tuesday, November 25, 2003
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