Today, 29th January the High Court is hearing a Judicial Review taken by Friends of the Irish Environment against An Bord Pleanála’s decision to extend the planning permission for the Shannon LNG project in Ballylongford in Kerry, by a further 5 years.

 

Supporting the Judicial Review against the project, Gluaiseacht spokesperson Con Coughlan stated “Studies indicate that for fracked gas 12% of the lifetime production of the gas wells escapes to the atmosphere.  Further leakage occurs during the liquefaction and re-gasification processes. In the first 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere, methane is 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas.”[1]

 

Last week in the Dáil under questioning from TD Mick Wallace about the Shannon LNG project, Minister for State for Natural Resources Seán Canney stated "In 20 years' time, we will have transitioned away from this type of fuel [gas] but we cannot do it overnight."[2]

 

Con Couglan continued “Speaking recently Minister Richard Bruton said that in order to deal with climate disruption, that we would need a revolution in how we live.  How is the building of import terminal for fracked gas any different to what has caused climate breakdown in the first place”.

 

Despite the assertions of good intentions from Government ministers, along with allowing for further exploration for oil and gas off the Irish coast, the Government or State companies in recent times have given support for the following fossil gas projects:

• Shannon LNG
• Proposed Island bridge storage facility [3]
• Proposal for Reverse flow of the Moffat interconnector [4]
• Completed Second Gas interconnector [5]
• Expansion of the gas grid to several new towns [6]
• Proposed Cork LNG import terminal [7]

Meanwhile, in recent months drawing on experience from the Corrib Gas campaign, Gluaiseacht members have been involved in direct action trainings to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure in Ireland. 

 

Commenting on the direct action trainings Con Couglan concluded  "The Corrib Gas project was estimated to have cost €4.3billion despite the initial project estimate being €800million. When Shell finally sold out of the project it was for a loss of around €1billion.  Direct action resulted in a large portion of that overrun and can be very effective in stopping new fossil fuel projects”.[8]

 

 

 

 

[1] Methane Emissions - the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas - Cornell University

 

[2] Dáil Éireann debate - 24th Jan 2019 on Shannon LNG

 

[3] Losses at energy company aiming to develop gas storage facility in Co Antrim - Irish Times

 

[4] Physical reverse flow at Moffat interconnection point

 

[5] Gas begins flowing through €100m pipeline linking Ireland and Scotland - Irish Times

 

[6] Gas Networks Ireland current projects on extending the gas grid

 

[7] US company wants to build LNG terminal in Cork - Irish Independent

 

[8] Shell’s Corrib exit leaves energy giants up to €2.5bn in the red - Irish Times

 

 

Gluaiseacht is a non-hierarchical environmental and social justice movement bringing together grassroots organisations, concerned individuals and student groups from all over Ireland to raise awareness and take non-violent direct action on social, environmental and political issues.