Mercury storage up for debate by EU ministers

27 June 2007 16:54  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Euro Chlor, on Wednesday, urged the European Union’s Environment Council members to support the storage of mercury in underground units when they discuss the issue on Thursday.

 

The Environment Council is set to decide on a proposal to put mercury, which is no longer used in the chlor-alkali industry, or is produced in certain other industrial operations, into safe storage once export prohibition takes effect in July 2011.

 

The proposal for underground storage has been put forward by the Environment Commission.

 

Euro Chlor, which represents the European chlor-alkali industry, said it wanted to see mercury stored in dedicated salt mines.

 

This is not a solution that has come out of thin air but one that has been thought through, Euro Chlor's communications manager Peter Whippy said.

 

“I honestly think it’s the best solution; salt mines are extremely stable," he said

 

"It is not a waste product, it is pure mercury," he added.

 

But while Euro Chlor supports the Commission's proposal, Whippy had "no idea" whether it would be passed by EU environment ministers on Thursday because it had not received unanimous support from the European Parliament.

 

Parliament proposed looking into a site at Almadén, Spain and asking those who own the mercury to be responsible for the cost of storage.

 

European producers operating mercury electrolysis cells are ready to complete a voluntary agreement endorsed by the European Commission (EC) for safe, permanent underground storage - only a few of the 28 companies operating mercury-based chlorine plants still have to sign up.

By: Lucy Craymer
+44 20 8652 3214

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