ESB power station admits pollution control breaches

THE ESB’s power station at Moneypoint in Co Clare has admitted that it breached its pollution control licence 17 times so far this year and that the incidents were not reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The breaches, which relate to smoke emissions from one of the plant’s chimney stacks, only came to light after the EPA undertook a site inspection at the plant following two reported incidents in July.

On July 4, residents reported that ash from a storage pit had blown onto their properties, while on July 11, locals complained of seeing black smoke emitting from the station for a prolonged period of time.