AQW 25269/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 04/11/2021
Answered On Date: 22/11/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what steps he is taking in response to the recommendation of the International Energy Agency that there should be no new investments in oil and gas production fields, coal mines or unabated coal power plants beyond 2021.

Answer:

A number of steps have already been taken in this area. As part of a review of petroleum licensing, officials have considered Northern Ireland specific research on the impacts of oil and gas production, as well as broader research including that of the International Energy Agency. This research is being used to inform our future policy options for petroleum licensing. I hope to be in a position to present these policy options to the Executive later in the year.

In terms of power generation, Kilroot is the only power plant in Northern Ireland that uses coal and this will be phased out by September 2023.