The euphemistically entitled ‘Energy-from-Waste’ plant has, in the last week, finally resumed producing electricity; following nearly 8 months of down time whilst a turbine fault was repaired.

Damage to the outer casing was discovered, following a previous repair last year, which also necessitated the turbine being sent back to Germany; and it is believed that the damage was alleged to have been caused by the contractors.

When the turbine is functioning properly the plant is capable of producing 6MW of energy, of which 5MW is exported into the ‘grid’. This then provides approximately 5% - 10% of the Island’s base electricity load; so it has been a significant disruption to supplies and a major dis-benefit to the environment - whilst all that ‘waste’ heat has disappeared up the chimney.

It is understood that SITA (IOM) has to make a penalty payment, to the Department of Local Government & the Environment, for failing to produce any electricity and that they will in turn being seeking compensation from their contractors, Kvaerner, for their loss.

Meanwhile the row over the proposal to temporarily store the ‘fly ash’, or more properly entitled ‘Air Pollution Control Residues’ (APCR’s), in a hangar at Jurby airfield has still to be resolved.

Local MHK, David Cannan, received an apology from the DLGE Minister, John Shimmin, in July’s sitting of Tynwald, for his department not notifying him or the Jurby Commissioners of the proposals; but it understood that this has not entirely satisfied Mr Cannan and that he is pursuing the matter further.

The Manx Herald has also learned that the Richmond Hill Consultative Committee, the body that helps oversee the regulation of the incinerator, was not informed or consulted over the plans either; and that they too are far from satisfied with the manner in which this matter has been progressed.

A waste disposal licence application has been lodged by SITA (IOM) for the hangar at Jurby, which is in the ownership of the Department of Transport. However, apparently they have been informed, by the planning department, that they do not need planning permission, for what is essentially a waste transfer station, which is somewhat surprising.

It is perhaps worth noting, at this point, that the Chief Minister, in his Tynwald answer - to a supplementary question from Onchan MHK, David Quirk regarding a possible conflict of interest by the DLGE - stated that “there are statutory requirements which the Department will follow”.

The Manx Herald will continue to make inquiries to see that this bold statement, by Mr Brown, is complied with by the DLGE.

Incidentally, a planning application was submitted, some months ago, by SITA (IOM) for permission to build an extension to the incinerator building to store the APCR’s; which had to be re-advertised when it was pointed out to the DLGE they had ‘an interest’ in the application.

It now appears that the description of the proposal was not accurate either; as it is believed that the extension will only be used for housing equipment to bag the ash - prior to it being delivered to Jurby for storage.

The licence application, for the Jurby ‘store’, states that approximately 50, 1 tonne bags of ash will be transported weekly to Jurby, in loads of 10 to 20, depending on the vehicle size. The entire volume will then be shipped, once a year, to their final disposal destination; which is planned to be Norway.