Thursday 20 September 2007

€500m gas terminal seeks planning

THE company planning a €500 million liquid gas terminal on the Shannon Estuary has confirmed it will seek planning permission within the next eight days.

Shannon LNG Ltd yesterday advertised detailed plans for a terminal to convert highly pressurised liquid gas for use on the national grid.

It hopes to open the terminal in 2012.

If given the go-ahead, the north Kerry facility has the potential to provide 40% of the country’s natural gas requirements.

Shannon LNG’s managing director Paddy Power said the plans are being sent to An Bord Pleanála and will be made public on September 28.

The submission of this application is the culmination of months of research, he said.

“The EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) is a very comprehensive document addressing all aspects of the project including environmental impacts, construction and traffic issues, safety requirements and the strict standards to be employed during both construction and operation,” he said.

The cost of the project has risen by €100 million since last year when the company began a site investigation.

Yesterday it said €500m was a more accurate reflection of the cost.

Once An Board Pleanála has received the application a seven-week window will open for the public to register objections.

The proposed complex will be built on the Kerry side of the estuary in the townlands of Ralappane and Kilcolgan Lower, situated between Ballylongford and Tarbert.

This is a land-bank owned by Shannon Development — earmarked to harness the economic potential of its deep-water access.

The terminal will involve a network of jetties, four giant gas storage tanks and buildings where the liquid gas will be converted from minus 160°.

It will require a number of fire safety measures and the establishment of an emergency plan in case of a major accident on the site.

As the terminal is considered a strategic piece of infrastructure, the planning application goes directly to An Bord Pleanála.

Kerry County Council has already approved the rezoning required to allow the complex to be built.

Chairman of Shannon Development John Brassil said the gas terminal will be a big employment boost for the north Kerry area.

From September 28 the public can view the plans at An Bord Pleanála in Dublin, in Shannon LNG’s offices in Listowel, at Kerry County Council in Tralee and at www.shannonlngplanning.ie

Irish Examiner

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