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Tue 9th March
Mr Durkan said:
“The Northern Ireland gas market, especially in towns and cities outside Belfast – including in Derry – is still undeveloped. There remains a strong dependence on heavy carbon fuels and any elimination of the Climate Change Levy exemption would have the perverse impact of discouraging the switch from intense-carbon power sources to gas.
“Energy costs in Northern Ireland also remain significantly higher than in Great Britain or other countries and any removal of the exemption would have the effect of adding to that burden during the current recession.
“The UK government and the European Commission accepted the compelling case for the original exemption from the levy for Northern Ireland gas users. The logic for extending the exemption for a further period is still compelling given such factors.
“I have therefore written to the Chancellor – in the context of his budget deliberations – requesting that he gives the utmost consideration to extending this measure to help foster further development of the natural gas market here and support our manufacturing sector which has been making the switch to lower carbon.”
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