Page 12 - GLNG Week 38 2022

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Ireland reconsiders

stance on LNG imports

IMPORT IRELAND’S government has unveiled a fresh A member of the Green Party, Ryan has been
set of potential measures to shore up its energy a vocal opponent of LNG imports, including
security in the years to come, stating it may drop projects that have been proposed by UK-listed
its opposition to LNG imports and develop gas Predator Oil and Gas and US LNG developer
storage. New Fortress Energy. Both projects have been in
The Department for the Environment, Cli- the pipeline for some time, failing to make pro-
mate and Communications said on September gress because of a lack of government backing.
19 it had launched a consultation that day, seek- Predator said on September 20 it would take
ing the views of interested parties on the options part in the consultation process, which will con-
it is considering. Those options include obtain- tinue until October 28, presenting its plan for the
ing a floating LNG (FLNG) terminal and gas Mag Mell floating storage and regasification unit
storage facilities – but this infrastructure would (FSRU).
only be put into operation if there is “a material “The public recognition that FSRUs are being
risk of demand disruption.” considered as an option for Ireland’s security
Ireland’s three-party government has resisted of gas supply during the energy transition is a
calls to back LNG imports, even though natu- major breakthrough for the company and its
ral gas accounts for a third of its energy mix and shareholders,” the company’s chairman, Paul
three-quarters comes from a single pipeline from Griffiths, said in a statement.
the UK. The remainder comes from the Corrib The revelation that the government will con-
gas field off Ireland’s west coast, where output is sider LNG imports as an option comes after it
falling and is due to cease completely at around launched a review of its energy policy in April
the end of the decade. in light of spiralling gas and power costs and the
“As we transition to a net-zero emissions risk of shortages this coming winter.
future, we must ensure that our pathway of Among the other measures it proposed this
decarbonisation is underpinned by both afforda- week was the construction of a 700-MW power
bility and, critically, security in how we access link to France, complementing the existing
and use energy at all times, including times when Celtic interconnector, and the development of
there might be demand risk or disruption,” Irish 360 MW of extra pumped storage hydroelectric
Minister for the Environment, Climate and capacity and increased secondary fuels storage.
Communications, Eamon Ryan, said in a state- It is also looking at converting a combined-cycle
ment. “It is essential that we have reliable sources gas turbine plant to use hydrogen.
of energy, including adequate gas and electricity The government is also weighing up new leg-
storage, so that consumer and business confi- islation covering gas storage, renewable gases,
dence in our economy and in our energy infra- extra battery storage and gas and power demand
structure remains strong.” response measures.™

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 38 23•September•2022