Bad news for fossil fuels: cost of coal and briquettes to rise today

The Government is extending the carbon tax to solid fuels from today.

By Christine Bohan Wednesday 1 May 2013, 6:30 AM

May 1st 2013, 6:30 AM 12,686 Views 104 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/890589

Image: Coal burning with yellow flames via Shutterstock

Image: Coal burning with yellow flames via Shutterstock

THE COST OF coal, briquettes and peat is set to rise today under the new carbon tax on solid fuels.

Up until now, solid fuels had escaped the carbon tax, but the Government announced in Budget 2013 that the scheme would be extended to peat and coal on a phased basis.

The rate of tax will be €10 per tonne, rising to €20 per tonne in May 2014.

The move will affect people who use fossil fuels to heat their homes, with a 40kg bag of coal costing around €1.20 more from today.

Ireland was one of the first countries in the EU to introduce a carbon tax in 2010 which covered fuel oil, natural gas and other non-solid fuels.

The hardware industry has said that people may turn to Northern Ireland to buy fuel to avoid having to pay the extra cost.

Read: Risk that Ireland won’t meet its EU emissions targets >

Read: Average driver to spend €243 on petrol this month, paying €138.50 in tax >

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Bad news for fossil fuels: cost of coal and briquettes to rise today

The Government is extending the carbon tax to solid fuels from today.

Read: Risk that Ireland won’t meet its EU emissions targets >