Steam coal

Summary

A request was made for details on steam coal procurement for the Isle of Man Steam Railway, including usage, costs, and transport logistics. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the annual usage and transport method but withheld specific cost figures and contract renewal dates due to an ongoing tender process.

Key Facts

• The average steam coal usage for the Steam Railway is 236 tonnes per year over the last two years.
• The last contract for steam coal supplies was awarded in 2014.
• Tenders are normally issued for 5 years but can be extended.
• A new tender call was planned for April 2021, subject to lockdown restrictions.
• Coal is transported to the Isle of Man by lorry and ferry.

Data Disclosed

• 236T
• 2014
• 5 years
• April 2021
• 10 March 2021
• 23 March 2021

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Prejudice to commercial interests)

Original Request

Dear Sirs, Can you please provide the relevant information for the following questions: How much steam coal does the Isle of Man Government purchase per year for the running of the Steam Railway? How much does it cost per tonne? How often, and when is the contract renewed for the supply of this coal? When is the renewal date for this contract? How is the coal transported over to the Isle of Man and how much does this cost?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team/AC/MF Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1702005 23 March 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 10 March 2021 and which states:

"Dear Sirs, Can you please provide the relevant information for the following questions: 1. How much steam coal does the Isle of Man Government purchase per year for the running of the Steam Railway? 2. How much does it cost per tonne? 3. How often, and when is the contract renewed for the supply of this coal? 4. When is the renewal date for this contract? 5. How is the coal transported over to the Isle of Man and how much does this cost?"

Our answers to your questions are as follows. 1. The average usage over the last two years is 236T each year 3. The provision of steam coal supplies was last awarded in 2014. Tenders are normally issued for 5 years but can be extended. 4. Work is progressing towards a new tender call to be issued in April 2021 subject to lockdown restrictions. 5. It is transported in a lorry and by ferry.

Under section 30 of the Act, the Act states that 'Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure… would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the public authority holding it).' The Department is currently working towards a new tender for the supply of steam coal. Disclosure of financial information at this time could give an unfair advantage to some parties over others during this process. For that reason, the information that you have requested in question 2 and the latter part of question 5 of your request has not been provided. As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to tests which are summarised below. Factors in favour of disclosure • Transparency of Government Factors in favour of withholding • Ensuring that no party is given an unfair advantage in the event of any call for Expressions of Interest, or Invitation to Tender. • Once negotiations and any future tender process is resolved, it may be that this information (or some of it) would be disclosed on request. In taking these factors into account the Department determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information. It is important to reiterate that this exemption may not apply at a future date when tender processes are complete. Please quote the reference number 1702005 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.

More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours faithfully

FOI Response Team