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Following is a question by the Hon Choy so-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 2)
Question:
It has been reported that a private company conducted a pilot test on waste incineration at Tuen Mun in April this year. If the monitoring report of the pilot test is approved by the Environmental Protection Department, the company can implement a waste incineration demonstration scheme for a period of 16 weeks according to the licence conditions. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the company may request an extension of the period during the implementation of the scheme;
(b) of the criteria in deciding whether the application for the extension of the period should be approved; and
(c) how it will avoid an indefinite extension of the scheme?
Reply:
Madam President,
A co-combustion pilot plant research project is jointly undertaken by Green Island Cement Company Limited (GIC) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. This pilot plant is set up at GIC's existing cement plant at Tuen Mun. The purpose of the research project is to utilize the energy recovered from the incineration of municipal solid waste for cement production. On November 25, 2003, GIC was granted a Specified Process Licence under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to operate the co-combustion pilot plant. According to the licence conditions, GIC shall not carry out operation of the co-combustion pilot plant unless the pilot plant passes the commissioning tests and GIC obtains agreement from EPD in respect of the tests results. The cumulative operation period of the pilot plant shall not exceed 16 weeks.
(a) Under the provisions of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the licence holder may apply for variation or renewal of the licence.
(b) Similar to other applications, EPD will process the concerned application in accordance with the provisions of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. Since the existing licence will expire on November 24, 2005, GIC has submitted an application for licence renewal to EPD on August 31, 2005, in order that the 16-week operation for the research project can be completed. Currently, EPD is processing the application. If the application for licence renewal is granted, the same licence terms and conditions stipulated in the existing licence will be imposed, that is, the cumulative operation period allowed for the co-combustion pilot plant shall not exceed 16 weeks. After this 16-week operation period, the pilot plant shall cease operation.
(c) The operation of the co-combustion pilot plant is required to comply with the licence conditions. It has been stipulated in the conditions that the cumulative operation period of the pilot plant shall not exceed 16 weeks. EPD will take appropriate enforcement actions against GIC, including stopping the operation of the plant, upon non-compliance with the licence terms and conditions.
Ends/Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:05
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