L 6/46 Official Journal of the European Communities 11.1.2000 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 30 March 1999 on the aid for the project ‘Process Integrated Gas Turbine at the Nerefco refinery’ which the Netherlands is planning to implement in favour of Nerefco (notified under document number C(1999) 904) (Only the Dutch text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2000/17EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to that provision (1), Where as: I. PROCEDURE By letter dated 10 October 1997, registered on 14 October 1997 by the Secretariat-General of the Euro- pean Commission, the Netherlands, in accordance with Article 93(3) of the EC Treaty, notified an aid for the project ‘Process Integrated Gas Turbine at the Nerefco refinery’. The Commission has requested additional information by its letter dated 4 December 1997, to which the Netherlands replied by a letter dated 8 January 1998. A second letter for further information was sent on 26 January 1998 and a reply was received by a letter dated 9 March 1998. A third request for further information was sent on 8 April 1998 and a meeting between repre- sentatives of the Netherlands and the Commission was held on 25 May 1998. In response to this meeting the Netherlands ~authorities have transmitted a faxed message dated 28 May 1998. () O] C 334, 31.10.1998, p. 3. () By letter referenced SG(98) D/5699 dated 13 July 1998, the Commission informed the Netherlands Government of its decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of this aid. The Commission decision to initiate the produre was published in the Official Journal of the European Communi- ties (). The Commission called on interested parties and other Member States than the Netherlands to submit their comments. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE AID The project involving a process-integrated gas turbine at the Nerefco refinery forms part of a general CO, reduc- tion plan launched by the Netherlands Government in the autumn of 1997. The Government's aim, through this plan, is to encourage projects that will lead to a significant reduction in CO, emissions, thus contributing to sustainable economic growth. The purpose of the project is to help reduce CO, emis- sions. The project entails the construction of a gas turbine that is fully integrated with a process unit of a refinery, replacing conventional separate heat and elec- tricity generation. The use of gas turbines in combined heat and power plants results in a substantial improve- ment in energy efficiency and lower CO, emissions than conventional, separate heat and power generation. However, gas turbines have not so far been used in process installations, because they are less reliable. Gas turbines tend to break down much more frequently than conventional equipment and require more maintenance. The installation of gas turbines also involves higher investment.