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The article reports that energy services group Mitsui Babcock has called for urgent government action to support clean coal technologies in order to retain the security of the British electricity supply and enable carbon dioxide reduction targets to be met. It believes that at least 20 million pounds per year is needed to support R&D efforts and, most importantly, the demonstration of a coal-fired power station retrofitted with the latest carbon dioxide abatement techniques. This investment should be increased to 50 million pounds if Great Britain is to become a global leader in this area. INSET: Mitsui's four-point action plan.

This article presents information related to wider issues in energy and energy policy through the eyes of engineers. The government said, for instance, that Great Britain's carbon dioxide emissions should be cut by 60% from current levels by 2050. By a margin of 51% to 39%, engineers thought it could, though many added the caveat that it would need significant investment and some push by government. A nearer target in the white paper is the aim for renewable sources to cater for 20% of Great Britain's energy demand by 2020.