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| Protesters raid coal power plant | Protesters raid coal power plant |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Greenpeace campaigners have staged a protest at a power plant which could be the site of Britain's first new coal-fired station for 20 years. | Greenpeace campaigners have staged a protest at a power plant which could be the site of Britain's first new coal-fired station for 20 years. |
| More than 50 activists said they wanted Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent. | More than 50 activists said they wanted Prime Minister Gordon Brown to reject the proposal for the Kingsnorth site, on the Hoo Peninsula, in Kent. |
| They also aim to take the plant off the National Grid. | They also aim to take the plant off the National Grid. |
| E.ON UK said protesters had been at the gates with some inside the facility, but insisted it was still operational. | E.ON UK said protesters had been at the gates with some inside the facility, but insisted it was still operational. |
| Kent Police said it sent negotiators to the scene after being called at about 0600 BST on Monday, and marine and climbing units were also on standby. | |
| Reduced emissions | Reduced emissions |
| A statement said: "It is thought that 23 Greenpeace protesters are currently on power station property and several of them have chained themselves to generators. | A statement said: "It is thought that 23 Greenpeace protesters are currently on power station property and several of them have chained themselves to generators. |
| "Police have closed surrounding roads and have already moved on 30 people from the outskirts of the site." | "Police have closed surrounding roads and have already moved on 30 people from the outskirts of the site." |
| E.ON UK announced in October 2006 that it planned to build two new coal units at Kingsnorth, saying they would be cleaner and more efficient than the current ones with "state-of-the-art technology" reducing carbon dioxide emissions. | E.ON UK announced in October 2006 that it planned to build two new coal units at Kingsnorth, saying they would be cleaner and more efficient than the current ones with "state-of-the-art technology" reducing carbon dioxide emissions. |
| There is a team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack Protester Joss Garman | There is a team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack Protester Joss Garman |
| Greenpeace said more than 13,000 objections had been sent to Medway Council, but "in the next couple of weeks the decision will go to Gordon Brown". | Greenpeace said more than 13,000 objections had been sent to Medway Council, but "in the next couple of weeks the decision will go to Gordon Brown". |
| The climate campaigners said their message to the prime minister was: "Don't bottle it on climate change." | The climate campaigners said their message to the prime minister was: "Don't bottle it on climate change." |
| They scaled fences at the site just after 0500 BST on Monday. | They scaled fences at the site just after 0500 BST on Monday. |
| One protester, 22-year-old Joss Garman from north London, said he and others had climbed up coal conveyors, pressed the emergency stop buttons and chained themselves to the belts. | One protester, 22-year-old Joss Garman from north London, said he and others had climbed up coal conveyors, pressed the emergency stop buttons and chained themselves to the belts. |
| Mr Garman described the action as a form of "peaceful civil disobedience" which could last for days rather than hours. | Mr Garman described the action as a form of "peaceful civil disobedience" which could last for days rather than hours. |
| "There is another team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack, and they've got enough supplies to last for a few days," he said. | "There is another team who are scaling the 250m-high (820ft) smoke stack, and they've got enough supplies to last for a few days," he said. |
| About 23 protesters got inside the facility on Monday morning | About 23 protesters got inside the facility on Monday morning |
| Mr Garman claimed the new coal units planned for Kingsnorth would do little to reduce carbon emissions. | Mr Garman claimed the new coal units planned for Kingsnorth would do little to reduce carbon emissions. |
| "This power station [currently] wastes over two-thirds of the energy that it produces... although it will be slightly more efficient, this new plant will still lose over half the energy it will create." | "This power station [currently] wastes over two-thirds of the energy that it produces... although it will be slightly more efficient, this new plant will still lose over half the energy it will create." |
| He added that protesters hoped to have taken the power station off the National Grid later on Monday, but claimed there would be no blackouts as a result. | He added that protesters hoped to have taken the power station off the National Grid later on Monday, but claimed there would be no blackouts as a result. |
| E.ON UK spokesman Jonathan Smith said: "They're in a number of places inside the power station, but they aren't actually causing it to stop running just yet. | E.ON UK spokesman Jonathan Smith said: "They're in a number of places inside the power station, but they aren't actually causing it to stop running just yet. |
| "These people are not qualified to be in our power station... we're working very closely with the police to try to ensure a safe and swift end to this protest." | "These people are not qualified to be in our power station... we're working very closely with the police to try to ensure a safe and swift end to this protest." |
| Mr Smith also said the proposals were for a "cleaner coal development". | Mr Smith also said the proposals were for a "cleaner coal development". |
| "The new units will be carbon capture-ready, which means they would have the pipework on them to actually capture the carbon dioxide and to store it underground once that technology is proven." | "The new units will be carbon capture-ready, which means they would have the pipework on them to actually capture the carbon dioxide and to store it underground once that technology is proven." |
| The company estimates the two new units will reduce carbon emissions by about two million tonnes a year. | The company estimates the two new units will reduce carbon emissions by about two million tonnes a year. |