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Following is a question by the Hon Martin Lee Chu-ming and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (July 7):-
Question:
It has been reported that due to an increase in coal consumption, the average amounts of gas emission for each unit of electricity generated by the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) in both 2002 and 2003 were higher than that of 2001. The amount of sulphur dioxide emission by the CLP in 2003 almost doubled that of 2002, while the amount of nitrogen oxide emission increased by over 60%, granular material by over 40%, and that of carbon dioxide emission for each unit of electricity generated also climbed back to the level of 1996. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)of the mechanism, legislation and procedures for regulating the emission of pollutants from power plants;
(b)whether targets have been set for restricting or reducing the amount of pollutants emitted from power plants; if so, of the target amount of emission; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c)of the measures that can be taken to reduce the emission of pollutants from power plants and prevent the pollution problems from getting worse?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a)Under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO), operation of power plants requires a specified process licence issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). When deciding whether to grant or refuse to grant a licence to a power plant, the APCO requires that EPD shall-
(1)have regard to the capability of the applicant to provide and maintain the best practicable means for the prevention of the emission from his premises of any air pollutants;
(2)aim to achieve and maintain any relevant air quality objective; and
(3) have regard to whether the emission of noxious or offensive emissions would be, or be likely to be, prejudicial to health.
To ensure that every power plant meets the above three legally specified considerations, EPD can impose any necessary requirements as terms and conditions in the specified process licence, including limits on emission of air pollutants from the power plant and monitoring requirements, etc. A specified process licence is valid for a period of not less than two years. Upon expiration, the power plant has to apply for renewal of the licence. Violation of any terms and conditions in the licence is an offence. The licence holder is liable to a fine of $100,000 if convicted for the first time, and a fine of $200,000 plus imprisonment for 6 months for any second or subsequent offence.
The current licensing terms and conditions for power plants require the installation of an on-line system for continuous monitoring of air pollutants in the chimney flue gas. The data are transmitted directly to EPD for auditing. EPD staff also inspect power plants regularly to check that they are implementing adequate measures to comply with the terms and conditions of the licences.
(b)To control the amount of pollutants emitted from power plants, EPD has stipulated emission concentration limits of air pollutants in the specified process licences, covering sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates. These emission concentration limits are determined based on the best practicable means, having regard to the commissioning time of the concerned power plant and the type and design of the electricity generation units. The current power plant flue gas emission concentration limits for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates are as follows:
(1)For the eight coal-fired units of the Castle Peak Power Station, the limits are 2,100, 1,500 and 125 mg/m3 respectively.
(2)For the six gas-fired units of the Black Point Power Station, the limits are 5, 90 and 5 mg/m3 respectively.
(3)For the eight coal-fired units of the Lamma Power Station, the limits are 1,910, 1,200 and 125 mg/m3 respectively for units L1 to L5; 191, 660 and 85 mg/m3 respectively for unit L6; and 200, 411 and 50 mg/m3 respectively for units L7 to L8.
(c)During 1993 to 2002, the total emission of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates from power plants in Hong Kong was reduced from 160 thousand tonnes, 110 thousand tonnes and 8.7 thousand tonnes to 60 thousand tonnes, 40 thousand tonnes and 2.6 thousand tonnes respectively. The respective reductions are 63%, 65% and 69%. During the same period, the total emission of carbon dioxide was reduced by 18% from 30 million tonnes to 24 million tonnes. However, due to change in electricity demand and the number of coal-fired units needed to be operated in a particular year, the total quantity of emissions from power plants may vary.
To further control the emission of air pollutants from power plants, we have not approved any new coal-fired electricity generation units since 1997. All newly built power plants have to use gas as the main fuel. It is cleaner to generate electricity by burning gaseous fuel which emits 99.6%, 94.7%, 95.2% and 52.8% less sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates and carbon dioxide respectively than burning coal.
Electricity generation by wind power does not emit any air pollutants and carbon dioxide. We are exploring with the two power companies the feasibility of building two commercial scale wind turbines in Hong Kong for demonstrating to the community the advantages and disadvantages of generating electricity with wind power. It will help decide the feasibility of developing a wind farm in Hong Kong and the scale.
Furthermore, to improve the air quality of the Pearl River Delta Region, the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government agreed in April 2002 to reduce, on a best endeavour basis, the regional emissions of four major air pollutants, namely sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, respirable particulates and volatile organic compounds by 40%, 20%, 55% and 55% respectively by 2010, using 1997 as the base year. Power plants are major local emission sources of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and respirable particulates. To help achieve the reduction targets agreed above, we are exploring cost effective emission reduction measures, including emissions trading, with the two power companies.
Ends/Wednesday, July 7, 2004
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