Additional information submitted as part of ongoing planning application for Sustainable Energy Plant

Tata Chemicals Europe press release, September 21, 2010

As part of the ongoing planning application for a sustainable energy plant in Lostock, Tata Chemicals Europe and E.ON have this week supplied additional information to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in line with original timescales.

The information covers a number of areas including updates to the original Environmental Statement to take into account other approved or proposed developments by other parties, an update of minor building design alterations and feedback from the most recent round of public consultations.

Fraser Ramsay, Sustainable Energy Plant Business Development Executive at Tata Chemicals Europe, said: “The updates to our planning application are a normal part of the process and most importantly allow us to provide information and feedback from our most recent phase of community consultation.

“We firmly believe this project will be of benefit not just to Tata Chemicals Europe but to the wider community. It will give us the opportunity to continue investment in Northwich and create a sustainable energy plant that will play an important role in meeting both our current and future energy needs.”

Further public exhibitions will be held on Tuesday 12th October 2010 and Wednesday 13th October 2010 at Lostock Social Club on Manchester Road.

Fraser Ramsay adds: “This is the third exhibition we have held and it will once again provide an excellent opportunity for the local community to learn more about our proposed development as well as meet and ask questions directly to the development team.”

The exhibition will be open on Tuesday 12th October 2010 between 1pm and 8pm and on Wednesday 13th October between 11am and 4pm.

Tata Chemicals Europe power plant designs unveiled

Tata Chemicals Europe press release, January 19, 2010

First designs of how Tata Chemicals Europe’s proposed £250m sustainable energy plant could look have been made available by the Northwich-based company.

Artist’s impressions are featured in the latest company newsletter which is being delivered to more than 12,000 homes in the area.

John Kerrigan, Tata Chemicals Europe’s managing director, says: “This is a successful business that has been in Northwich for nearly 140 years and the sustainable energy plant would be a key investment in the company’s future in the town.

“Developing new sources of power in a tough and increasingly expensive energy market will ensure we can continue producing and selling soda ash and employing local people.

“And along with helping the business to remain competitive in the world market, the sustainable energy plant would ensure the brownfield site of the existing redundant power station was redeveloped.

“In addition, using pre-treated waste as a source of fuel means we will be helping to reduce the amount of waste material going to landfill, so cutting the levels of CO2 and methane emissions harmful to the environment.

“We have now published the latest information about the possible look and operation of the sustainable energy plant and are asking local residents to let us have their views so we can include them in the final planning proposal.

“The latest newsletter – which will also be available for people to download online – provides the most up-to-date detail that we have about the proposal. There will be further newsletters, website updates and another public exhibition when we have further information to share.”

As part of the planning consent process – which will be decided by the Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change – Tata Chemicals Europe has commissioned experts to evaluate how the new facility will operate and its likely effect on the local road network and environment.

The latest conclusions reached by the experts from their assessments are:

• The height of the tallest building within the new development would be about 48 metres – similar to the height of the existing redundant power station.
• The two chimneys needed to meet environmental regulations governing emissions from the plant would be about 90 metres tall. Again, this is similar to the measurements for the previous plant.
• The fuel would be pre-treated, non-hazardous waste, a large proportion of which would come from outside Cheshire. This is because of the current lack of waste-derived fuel produced in the county, but could change if supplies become available.
• Emissions from the sustainable energy plant would be controlled by established and proven technology including flue gas cleaning equipment and the use of negative air pressure to keep emissions inside the building for treatment before release.
• Various scenarios for transporting fuel to the new power plant have been tested, including a split of two-thirds by rail to one-third by road. However, calculations show that even the unlikely scenario of all fuel going by road would be manageable for the local road network. Peak-time lorry movements will be carefully considered whichever option is chosen and we are continuing to discuss suitable traffic schemes with the highway authority.

Tata Chemicals Europe plan for Sustainable Energy Plant at Lostock

Tata Chemicals Europe press release, October 19, 2009

Northwich soda ash manufacturer Tata Chemicals Europe is planning a major new investment at its site at Lostock. The company, which employs 500 people, wants to develop a Sustainable Energy Plant that will supply renewable heat and electricity for both its sites in the town.

The investment will help secure the company’s long-term future by reducing both energy costs and reliance on fossil fuel. It will result in the company having one of the lowest carbon footprints for a manufacturer of its kind in Europe.

The new Sustainable Energy Plant will be developed and operated with energy company E.ON on the site of the old power station at Tata Chemicals Europe’s Northwich East (Lostock) factory. It will provide about a third of the energy required by the sites, producing up to 60 MW of electricity and 100 tonnes of steam per hour.

It will use solid fuel derived from biomass (plant-derived material) and pre-treated waste supplied from waste-treatment facilities in the North West and further afield. The fuel would be transported to Tata Chemicals Europe by rail and road.

Plans for power plants of this size are decided by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and follow a different path to normal planning applications.

The proposals for the Sustainable Energy Plant are in the early stages of development. This week an environmental impact ‘scoping report’ was submitted to DECC as well as to Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council for their consideration. Consultees in this process will have an opportunity to comment on the nature and breadth of issues that should be examined in the Environmental Statement.

A ‘scoping opinion’ will then be issued by DECC to confirm the topics that will be included in the Environmental Statement. Once the Environmental Assessment and Statement have been completed, an “application for consent” to develop the Sustainable Energy Plant will be made to DECC.

An initial information leaflet is being distributed this week to homes and businesses in the Lostock area. Public exhibitions are currently being organised to be held in December and will be advertised in the local media and online.

A special website is also being set up to give details of the development as the plans progress.

Tata Chemicals Europe is one of the largest employers in the area and provides indirect employment to people who work for raw material suppliers, distributors and onsite contractors. As the sole supplier of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate in the UK, it is a vital supplier for the UK glass, detergent and pharmaceutical industries.

John Kerrigan, Managing Director of Tata Chemicals Europe, said: “The new Sustainable Energy Plant is vital to Tata Chemicals Europe’s future as we need to reduce our exposure to increasing energy costs in order to protect our business and the jobs that depend on it. We must also address carbon reduction requirements which are now a priority for Government and the EC.

“Using a waste-derived fuel will be a highly efficient and sustainable way for us to produce the steam that drives our manufacturing process.

“Our products are supplied into highly competitive markets, so delivering best value for our customers is our absolute priority. Soda ash is a main ingredient in the manufacture of sheet glass for the motor and construction industries, sectors that are suffering more than most in the recession.

“Everyone at Tata Chemicals Europe – and that includes absolutely all staff - spends a great deal of time finding ways to control and drive down costs. However energy costs are one area where, at the moment, we are most vulnerable. These new plans will allow us to bring those costs under control, with a reliable, sustainable fuel source that is not dependant on overseas suppliers and fluctuating world markets.

Mr Kerrigan went on: “We have a long-standing commitment to sharing our plans with local people at a very early stage. We are members of this community, we live here as well as work here, so it’s in our own interest to ensure that we take account of everyone’s views.”