What is it?
- Project bringing natural gas from 80 km offshore to the west coast of Ireland where it will be processed and fed into the national grid.
- Will meet up to 60% of the country’s natural gas needs at peak production.
- Will contribute an estimated $4.1 billion to Ireland’s gross domestic product.
- County Mayo to benefit by $246 million during construction.
- Four offshore wells drilled by the end of 2007 and construction of onshore gas terminal well under way.
COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE FOR CORRIB
NATURAL GAS PROJECT
The Corrib natural gas project illustrates the importance – and sometimes the difficulty – of getting agreement for new energy projects. Success depends on genuine consultation and delivering tangible benefits for the local community, as well as for the country.
In 2006, we agreed to alter the original onshore pipeline route on the recommendation of a government-appointed mediator. This was to address concerns that it was too close to some people’s houses. We committed to selecting the new route in a transparent way, with thorough and genuine consultation. Independent planning and environmental consultants RPS managed the process.
In 2007, RPS presented eight possible new routes to community groups, landowners and regulators for public discussion. Based on their input, and a technical evaluation, three of these routes were initially shortlisted and two new possibilities added. From this list, RPS recommended the route that, in their view, best balanced the needs of the community, the environment and the project. We submitted a formal permit application for this route in April 2008, which included an Environmental Impact Statement as required by European Union and Irish law. The government’s official consultation process then started. It will consider the views of all interested parties before making a final decision.
We are pleased that the local economy is benefiting from the project. Over 650 people, the majority from County Mayo, are currently working on site and 130 permanent jobs will be created as a result of the terminal’s operation. Twelve towns will receive gas from the project. A significant community development fund is being set up and will run from 2008 for the lifetime of the Corrib project. Additionally, in 2007 we invested over $680,000 in community and educational projects that meet our criteria of being sustainable, local and inclusive.
KEVIN HEGARTY
MEMBER OF THE CORRIB NATURAL GAS SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
“After a torrid time, the Corrib natural gas project seems to have settled into more sedate waters. There will always probably be people who will continue their opposition on ideological grounds but there is now a greater acceptance of the project in the Erris Community. Shell has made significant efforts to convince people that high safety standards apply in the construction of the terminal at Bellanaboy and that similar standards will apply in its operation. And benefits from the project have begun to flow into the community. In the long term the most significant sponsorship is the student scholarship scheme which has won wide acceptance in the four local secondary schools.”
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