Cleaner coal needed?

Press, 30 April 1982, Page 4

Cleaner coal needed?

More clean air zones in Christchurch would mean pressure on coal merchants to improve their coal, the Canterbury United Council's air pollution committee heard yesterday. The" Christchurch branch manager of the State Coal Department and president of the Canterbury Coal Merchants' Association, Mr W. M. Warren, said that State coal met the 0.5 per cent sulphur content required in clean air zones but there were less suitable coals “going in the back door." State Coal supplied about 75 per cent of the local domestic market. Many private coal merchants considered that 1 per cent was an acceptable sulphur content for coal used in space heaters and open fires, he said. Some who were heavily involved in private mines were not going to stop selling coal with higher sulphur contents that was their “bread and butter." Campaign About $19,000 will be spent on a two-month advertising campaign to reduce air pollution this winter. Based on the slogan. “Make your home a clean air zone.” ' the first newspaper advertisements will appear next week to promote the use of electricity and other smokeless methods of home heating. Approved electric and solid fuel heating appli-

ances will also appear in shops with “clean air" tags. The Christchurch Meteorological Office will tag air pollution forecasts on to its answer-telephone service from tomorrow. Information on. weather patterns will be qpdated in the mornings and afternoons to predict the level of pollution on a fourpoint scale from "low" to "severe." Car exhausts Government action to reduce car exhaust emissions will be sought from the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair). The committee will invite Mr Gair to discuss the matter. Dr N. J. Peet, a lecturer in chemical engineering at

i Canterbury University, said that pilot studies had already - showed that regular exhaust ' testing led to fuel savings > and less air pollution. A - Government committee in i 1977 had recommended in- ? eluding carbon monoxide 1 tests in .warrant of fitness J tests but so far there had - been only a publicity cam- ) paign on the fuel saving advantages. Lead levels in petrol was - another worry for committee s members, who voted to ask - the Ministry of Energy (Mr Birch) for a progress report 2 on plans to reduce the lead - content of petrol processed r at the Marsden Point oil t refinery.