The ESB has welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant permission for the construction of a new peat-fired power plant at Lanesboro, in Co Longford.
Approximately 400 jobs will be created in the construction of the plant and, when operational, the new station will employ approximately forty full time staff and will sustain several hundred jobs in the peat industry and ancillary activities.
The construction phase of the project will take approximately three years and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2004.
Emission control equipment will significantly reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides below current levels. The plant has been granted an Integrated Pollution Control Licence by EPA and will comply fully with the updated EU regulations.
The peat used will originate from existing Bord na M&oactue;na bogs which are licenced by the Environmental Protection Agency. None of the peat will come from conserved bogs or those listed for conservation.
ESB has described the decision as a major step forward for full board approval for the construction of the plant.
Later this week approval is expected to be granted for a similar plant in €3.1 million on new peat-fired plants at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly.
The ESB is to make an investment of €3.1 million in both plants which will also be supported EU-sanctioned "public service obligation" tariffs.
The plants are being developed to replace six peat-fired plants, including those at Rhode and Ferbane in Co Offaly which will be closed later this year.
In 2000, ESB unions agreed to these closures in return for EU support for the two new plants.