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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st JULY 2008 Question
With regard to the Bellozanne chimney, would the Minister advise:
- how often it has a full internalinspection;
Answer
The department has monitored the chimney on a regular basis throughout the life of the plant, approximately twice a year the operational manager has ascended the chimney for a visual inspection. In addition to this, formal survey's and specialist remedial works have been undertaken on the dates as listed below:
September 2001 May 2002 October 2003 November 2004 January 2005 November 2006 January 2007 November 2007 January 2008
Question
- when it waslast identified that flue repairs were necessary;
Answer
Flue repairs were identified during a scheduled inspection in January 2008, and repairs planned for April 2008 during a boiler shutdown and when the weather was better for working at the top of the chimney. This work was tendered and awarded to a firm of steeplejacks for a sum of £58,000.
Question
- the maintenance cost duringeachof the last five years;
Answer
c) The maintenance cost related to the chimney during each of the last five years is as follows;
2003 £6,688
2004 £3,872
2005 £3,988
2006 £31,680
2007 £20,946
(2004 and 2005 steeplejack inspection costs only).
Question
- its present age and expected lifespan.
Answer
The chimney was constructed in 1978 and is currently 30 years old, the expected remaining lifespan cannot be given until results of detailed structural survey are completed. Defining a life' of a concrete reinforced structure is very challenging but it is likely that additional strengthening will be required to prolong the life of the chimney until the new Energy from Waste plant is commissioned. The chimney specialist has indicated that there are very few chimneys of this design still in use in the UK, due to their inherent design problems.