ESB will be requested to consider purchasing their coal from sources other than Russia.
Elected representatives of the West Clare Municipal District unanimously agreed on Tuesday to write to the ESB asking them to consider buying their coal for Moneypoint from a different location in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last year, almost all of the coal burnt at Moneypoint came from Russia, the value of this is believed to be in the region of €300m based on current prices.
While their counterparts in Sweden and Denmark have made the decision to stop buying coal and biomass from Russia, ESB have not ruled out maintaining business dealings with Russia, “ESB had discretion in terms of suppliers of coal, subject to normal commercial arrangements, the technical specification of the coal and the potential for imposition of sanctions,” a spokesperson outlined.
Officials in the Department of the Environment have acknowledged that Moneypoint has become more important for security of supply in recent months due to wider issues in the electricity grid which led to the fear of power cuts over the winter. “The ESB sources coal for Moneypoint on international markets. The ESB has stated that coal sourced from Russia currently makes up a significant element of this. ESB keeps sourcing options under review, as a matter of course,” the Department said.
Speaking on Tuesday, Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) led the call for ESB to stop buying Russian coal for Moneypoint, “I think it is inappropriate, it behoves us as councillors to send a letter to ESB and ask them to consider where they are purchasing their coal from. We are an MD with this at our heart, it is utterly inappropriate”.
His stance was fully endorsed by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who commended the groups involved in the collections for the people of Ukraine. Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) flagged that a “considerable Russian entity” is operating on the Shannon Estuary and voiced concern of a potential impact to Rusal Aughinish and the 500 people working at its huge alumina smelter on the Estuary.
Constituents made contact with Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) offering to make an apartment available to a Ukraine family for up to a year, he queried what agency would be the point of contact for this type of humanitarian work. Ways in which the public can help needs to be widely disseminated in the media, Cllr Lynch responded.
Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) this week tabled a parliamentary question asking the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan (GP) “to outline if deliveries of Russian coal to Moneypoint power station have been disrupted because of EU sanctions on Russia; to confirm if alternative sources of coal supplies for the power station have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter”. No response has yet been received by the Minister.
Following publication of this story, the ESB later confirmed that it would end its delivery of Russian coal to Moneypoint, full story: ESB to end delivery of Russian coal at Moneypoint ‘for the foreseeable future’.
