Spanish taxes hasten closure of coal-fired plants

摘要

German utility Eon is bringing forward the planned closure of a Spanish coal-fired plant as new taxes on generation due to come into force on 1 January diminish plant profits. Eon plans to close its 160MW Escucha 1 plant in central Spain at the end of this month, or in early 2013 at the latest. The plant had 5,636 hours left on 1 January 2012, under the EU large combustion-plant directive (LCPD), and it is not known whether it will have unused hours whin closing.