Chirk factory seeks power station permission

Kronospan has applied for permission for a building containing three gas engines and steam boilers, an electrical substation and other infrastructure at its complex in Chirk.

Although the buildings are in place they are not yet operational. The factory, which employs 600 people, needs large qualities of heat and electricity to make medium density fibreboard. But bosses say the section of high voltage, electricity network that supplies electricity to Chirk is sub-standard and very close to supply capacity.

The factory is currently restricted to drawing 65 per cent of its total demand from the grid and is also dependant on a biomass plant, gas turbines and oil/gas generators.

A report to Wrexham Council planners, who meet on January 4, says: "In order to safeguard against the fragility of the local grid, Kronospan is seeking to put measures in place to enable the site to operate independently from the grid.

"At present the potential for intermittent power supply is a significant risk to the operation of the business and limitations on the local grid hinder the manufacturing efficiency of the site.

"Provision of the gas engines will safeguard the future of the factory whilst increasing the efficiency of the operation."

But those objecting to the work say they have concerns about safety and pollution.

Letters of objection include a worry that the power station and 1,700 oil storage close to wood stock piles and wood production facilities would increase the risk of an 'environmental catastrophe'.

There was also a call for the factory to relocate to the Wrexham industrial estate.

However in his report the head of community wellbeing and development said he was satisfied that the works would not adversely impact on the environment. "Noise and emissions to air will continue to be controlled by the permit administered by Wrexham County Borough Council," he said.