31.01.2008

Newport City Council’s Planning Committee has today (Wednesday31 January 2007 ) given the go-ahead for Severn Power, a new £400 million, 800MW CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) power station near Newport, South Wales.  This is a critical stage in achieving planning permission for Severn Power which is expected to be awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Spring 2007.

Commenting on today’s news, Alex Lambie, chief executive of Carron Energy, owners of Severn Power said: “We are delighted to see this important project progressing.  South Wales needs new generation – currently consumers here pay some of the highest prices in the UK because of the need to import energy.  Severn Power is a major contribution to the Welsh Assembly’s aim of energy self-sufficiency for Wales, and will help create more than 650 skilled jobs.

“We have consulted extensively with all the interested environmental bodies, and pride ourselves on the fact that Severn Power has been specifically designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and the plans incorporate steps to protect and enhance the local conservation area and minimise emissions by using the very latest clean technology.”

Severn Power is due to start commercial operation in 2010 following a 30 month construction period and four months of commissioning.

The new plant will be built on the site of the former Uskmouth A coal-fired power station (demolished in January 2002), next to the existing Uskmouth Power Plant on the banks of the River Usk. Uskmouth Power (formerly Uskmouth B), will continue to operate alongside to the proposed CCGT power station. There has been power generation on this site for 47 years, and Severn Power will ensure that existing expertise and suppliers locally can continue to service a power station at the site.

A gas supply for the new plant will be delivered by extending the local gas distribution network, which is owned by Wales and West Utilities. The pipeline will be connected using the latest below ground horizontal drilling techniques which will mean no disruption to the land above it the pipeline route.

 

Notes to editors

1. In May 2006, Severn Power submitted proposals under the terms of Sections 14 and 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) to the Department of Trade and Industry, which then conduct a consultation, including the local authority and other interested bodies.  Section 36