Chemicals cause ESB plant closures

TWO of Ireland’s main peat-fuelled ESB power stations in the midlands are closed today because the ESB has to rely on trial and error to work out how to stop the plants being corroded by dangerous chemicals.

The plants that were closed on health and safety grounds are in Lanesborough, Co Longford and Shannonbridge, Co Offaly. They have only been open for the last five years and cost almost €500 million, yet both have been closed twice due to corrosion.

Last year, corrosion of piping was discovered in both stations, leading to short closures and up to €10 million in losses for Bord na Móna which supplies peat to both stations. There are 1,000 people employed in the midlands cutting peat to supply the electricity sector.

This time the chemicals created by removal of sulphur from the peat have eroded the reactor area of the gas treatment area.

The corrosion in the Lanesborough plant was spotted as part of a routine overhaul of the station. As a result, the ESB decided to have a look at the west Offaly plant.

ESB public affairs manager Eoghan Ó Neachtain said: “Because of the readings we took there and sent to manufacturers, they advised us to close west Offaly purely as a precautionary measure so they can go in and carry out a full technical evaluation. The plant is under warranty and so any repairs that need to be made will be carried out under warranty.

“This is leading edge technology to meet very stringent emission targets in Ireland now — we are trying to arrive at optimal burning of the peat that sufficiently deals with the removal of the sulphur.

“In a way it is trial and error that we are at this particular point. We have identified the problem twice and we were lead to believe it was repaired on each occasion.”

Mr Ó Neachtain said the closure of the two plants would not affect the national power supply but admitted the plants would be closed for at least a few weeks while the manufacturers try to rectify the problem.

ESB said there would not be any job losses as a result of the temporary plant closures.