Lignite Mine Controversy Fuels Passions
| Up to 80 farms could be destroyed in the area and the pollution would create an environmental disaster. |
In the first of special series for the Belfast Telegraph's Newspapers in Education Geography and Literacy project, Children's Express journalists report on controversial plans to mine for Lignite in Northern Ireland.
Between 1984-1986, an Australian company sank 16 bore holes to estimate the quality and extent of the lignite deposits around Ballymoney.
The deposits of lignite are known to extend to the shores of Lough Neagh which is the source of much of Belfast's water supply.
In 2002, an application was made for planning permission for a mine and a power station on the same site. The land potentially affected extends nearly 8 kilometres from the Ballymoney bypass.
Lignite is a soft, brown fuel which has characteristics similar to both peat and coal. It is found in the United States, Canada, Greece and Germany where it is generally used as a fuel for generating electricity. In Greece, for example, 50% of electricity comes from lignite power plants.
Northern Ireland's electricity is currently generated largely from imported oil and coal and electricity charges are amongst the highest in the UK. Lignite is seen as a cheaper local solution to our dependency on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation.
Despite several failed planning applications Ballymoney Power, the company interested in mining the lignite deposits, has stated: "It should be noted that natural gas is increasingly expensive and will eventually have to be imported from Russia and Norway as UK supplies run out."
The project, estimated at £500m, was planned to eventually cover several square miles of countryside and create a staggering 1,500 jobs during construction as well as 300 permanent jobs.
The open cast mining could produce more than 600 million tons of lignite over a 30 year period, for the onsite power station. The company said oil was very high in price and there was huge resistance by communities to renewable energy options, such as wind and tidal power.
Jayne Dunlop of the Alliance party strongly opposes the lignite mining proposals on environmental grounds. "Not only would the landscape in Northern Ireland suffer because of the mining, but the beautiful, clean environment on the Scottish coastline and western isles could also be badly affected" she said.
"Of course, that is likely to be dwarfed by the massive detrimental effect the open cast mine would have on North Antrim. Up to 80 farms could be destroyed in the area, and the pollution would create an environmental disaster."
The CBI has lobbied government about the high costs of energy for business in Northern Ireland. Energy costs seem set to rise due to our dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Ballymoney and Crumlin lignite deposits have considerable commercial potential and would create new jobs while reducing energy production costs.
Opposition to exploiting the lignite deposits is based on the environmental impact to the landscape and to air pollution. The debate continues!
About the team
This story was produced by Connor Scullion, 17. It was published by the Belfast Telegraph.
