By Harry McRandle
STATES Members are today debating proposals for the Island’s most expensive ever public capital project.
They must decide whether to spend £106 million on commissioning a new energy-from-waste plant at La Collette, close to the JEC power station, and using the existing tower to allow gases to escape safely into the atmosphere.
The proposition, to be put by Transport Minister Guy de Faye, will be vehemently opposed by the Environment Scrutiny Panel who have investigated the proposals.
Deputy de Faye will argue that the need for the new plant is now urgent and that any further delay in making a decision would be ‘catastrophic’, given that the existing Bellozanne plant keeps breaking down and will never again be able to run at full capacity.
Six months worth of work at a cost of £750,000 to repair the damage to the chimney is currently underway. Steeplejacks are working in hazardous conditions at heights from 80 to 100 metres to make the top of the structure safe again.
• JEP photographer Tony Pike went to the top to take these pictures
