Energy

The energy production industry in Pembrokeshire has suffered a major decline over the last 20 years, with the closure of two oil refineries and the Pembroke oil fired Power Station. Yet the two remaining refineries, ChevronTexaco and TotalFinaElf, which refine 15% of the UK’s oil needs, contribute over £100 million a year into the local economy and through their routine operations, supporting around 1,300 jobs.
Considerable developments are being made in the area of energy, including Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and offshore oil and gas. While these benefits are considerable and widely recognised, the presence of the energy industries in the county carries a price. The ecological footprint created by the industry is considerable in terms of its energy consumption, it’s release of ‘greenhouse’ gases, and it’s potential for environmental damage.
A few of the issues identified through topic group meetings on this subject were:

• Contamination of land at refinery sites is an obstacle to future development of the sites until remediation has taken place.
• The condensing water vapour plumes above the Texaco Oil Refinery, Pembroke, reduce the aesthetic value of the landscape.
• Run-off from energy industry sites can cause pollution and increase flooding risk.
• There is concern over a perceived lack of integration within and between the National Park’s and the County Council’s strategic approaches to energy generation and use and to waste management.
This Topic Group was chaired by David Fletcher from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. To download a full report on this subject in PDF format, including all the issues identified at the meetings, click here. If you would like the document in Welsh, please contact Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum on 01646 696174.

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