A3-0438/93

Resolution on new coal technologies

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motions for resolutions by:

(a)Mr Bettini and Mr Melis on the use of coal not burnt on site in power plants (B3-1066/92),

(b)by Mr Adam and others on ensuring the competitivity of European coal (B3-1262/92),

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (A3-0438/93),

A.having regard to the current recession in the Community coal industry owing to the emissions of greenhouse gases caused by the burning of pulverized coal in (traditional) boilers using conventional technology, the competitiveness of low sulphur content coal and the low price of petroleum,

B.whereas the problem of the crisis in production in the Community internal market seems difficult to solve even in the short term,

C.whereas the European coal market is faced with a progressive decrease in production and a progressive increase in consumption,

D.whereas in the Member States coal used for heating accounts for 76% of consumption,

E.whereas coal will continue to play an important role in the European energy sector over the next ten years,

F.whereas the main energy source used in the Community is petroleum (48.9%), most of which comes from the Middle East,

G.whereas the continent of Europe only has a negligible amount of petroleum-derived energy resources on its territory,

H.having regard to the constant political and military instability in the Middle Eastern states and the consequent insecurity of normal petroleum supplies,

I.having regard to the vital need to guarantee that Europe has its own supply of energy,

J.whereas environmental protection policies will direct investments in new plant towards 'clean technologies',

K.whereas in the near future it is likely that more profitable use will be made of petroleum in chemical and physical processes for more sophisticated purposes than burning it as fuel, for which other means are available,

L.having regard to the non-energy uses of coal: the use of anthracite as an electrode raw material for producing aluminium by electrolysis; recarburizing steel, producing artificial graphite and many other possibilities,

1.Calls for the development of technologies to convert coal from the solid state into liquid or gas;

2.Calls for the application of technologies for the enrichment of coal, with the development of new methods of removing pollutants (sulphur and ash) using physical, chemical and biological treatments (micro-organisms and enzymes);

3.Calls for the promotion of the process of hydropyrolysis, which uses coal for both energy and carbochemical purposes: together with gasification and liquefaction, this process offers a third method of processing coal capable of substantially reducing SO2 pollution;

4.Calls for research into and the introduction of non-energy uses for coal produced in the Community to be encouraged and developed, which would enable new outlets to be found for coal, at attractive prices;

5.Calls for the development of efficient clean combustion systems, with a high proportion of the pollutants removed (temperature control to break down the NOx and the addition of limestone to extract sulphur);

6.Calls for research in post-combustion and its application in conventional plants to be maintained;

7.Calls for gasification to be encouraged for low-grade coals, so as to make them competitive again, since gasification is the one innovative technology that has achieved the highest level of technological maturity and commercial reliability;

8.Calls for the operational testing of gasification plants linked with combined cycles to be continued, since this system is considered to be efficient and environmentally sound;

9.Calls for promotion of the production of SYNGAS, a synthesis gas which should aid the transition towards renewable energy sources;

10.Calls for consideration to be given to the development of fuel cells, which have immediate prospects for small power plants involving cogeneration;

11.Believes arrangements for close coordination of the research activities and demonstration projects carried out within the framework of the ECSC, Thermie and the non-nuclear energy programme to be necessary and calls on the Commission to submit to it a report on the implementation of such arrangements;

12.Calls on the Commission, with a view to the forthcoming expiry of the ECSC Treaty, to submit to it a further report on incorporation of ECSC research and demonstration activities and financing into the EEC programmes;

13.Calls on the Commission to maintain funding of ECSC research in the coal sector at current levels until ECSC activities are transferred to the EEC;

14.Reiterates the request made to the Commission in its resolution of 11 March 1992 to submit to it a long-term research, development and demonstration programme for the coal sector, in keeping with the proposals made in this resolution and the relevant budget forecasts;

15.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.