Ireland can be net exporter of gas, says Ahern

IRELAND has the capacity to become self-sufficient in natural gas and to become a net gas exporter Energy Minister Dermot Ahern said yesterday.

Mr Ahern said Ireland could be producing 70% of its requirements for natural gas in four years.

Speaking during a visit to the Ramco-owned Seven Heads gas field off the Cork coast, Mr Ahern said it was vital to our national interests that we produced as much energy from indigenous resources as possible.

He also indicated that Enterprise Energy, the promoters of the Corrib Field off the west coast, may be about to resubmit a development plan for the field after its development was delayed when Bord Pleanála shot down plans for an on-shore processing plant.

Mr Ahern said that at present, 80% of natural gas is imported but that will change when gas production from the Seven Heads Field and the Corrib Field off Co Mayo comes on stream.

“I am confident that recent developments offshore indicate that the level of future imports will be reduced. With Seven Heads expected to produce first gas in October 2003 and, hopefully, the development of the Corrib Field, Ireland’s dependency on gas imports could be greatly reduced,” he said.

“By 2007, volumes supplied by indigenous production could be of the order of 70% or more of domestic demand. Should other offshore discoveries be found and prove to be commercial, and are developed, it is possible that the indigenous sector, at some time over the next 10 years, could be meeting the full requirements of the Irish market,” he added.

Irish imports of gas from Britain are under threat as industry sources indicate Britain will become a net importer of gas in the next few years.

Mr Ahern said Ireland will have to find other sources.

“It is vital, therefore, that Ireland continues to progress the exploration of its offshore petroleum resources,” Mr Ahern said.