Current News

Contact | Print version | PDF version | Send article | RSS feed

Industry urges council to back mercury storage plan

27 Jun 2007 - Euro Chlor, the business association of the European chlor-alkali industry, called on the Environment Council to support a Commission proposal for underground storage of surplus liquid metal from decommissioned mercury-based chlorine plants after the banning of EU mercury exports by 2011.
 
Alistair Steel, Executive Director of Euro Chlor, said European producers operating mercury electrolysis cells were ready to complete a voluntary agreement endorsed by the Commission for safe, permanent underground storage. It would provide a viable solution to the fate of 9,600 tonnes of surplus metal from 44 plants scheduled to be phased out by 2020.
 
"Only a few of the 28 companies operating mercury-based chlorine plants still have to sign up," explained Mr Steel. "Industry has extensive experience in handling and storage of mercury and knows that using former salt mines for this purpose would be an environmentally sound option at acceptable cost."
 
Under the Commission-backed plan, surplus liquid mercury removed from decommissioned chlorine plants in 15 countries would be transported to its final destination in approved, sealed steel containers and stored in a dedicated area deep underground.
 
EU Ministers are due to discuss the proposal for a regulation on the banning of exports and safe storage of metallic mercury at the Environmental Council session scheduled to take place in Luxembourg on 28 June.