Rezoning leads way for €400m gas terminal

THE way was opened yesterday for the building of a major gas terminal in the Tarbert/Ballylongford area, after a rezoning decision by Kerry County Council.

A 466-acre landbank, which had been zoned rural general and secondary special amenity, was rezoned to industrial status.

Last May, after numerous promised projects failed to come to pass on the Kerry side of the Shannon Estuary, a €400m gas terminal was announced for the area.

Shannon Development granted a purchase option to Shannon LNG on 261 acres of the landbank, between Tarbert and Ballylongford, for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal.

The promoters said there would be 350 jobs during construction and 50 long-term staff would be employed when the terminal starting operating.

However, the project is subject to feasibility studies, technical assessments, planning and other approvals.

At the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michéal Martin said the project had the potential to secure Ireland’s long-term supply of natural gas.

Plans are to bring LNG from countries such as Algeria by tanker to the terminal where it will be stored in huge tanks. A new, 30km pipeline will be built to transport the gas to the national gas pipeline system, east of the site.

Yesterday’s council meeting adopted a recommendation from acting county manager Tom Curran to rezone the land for industry.

In a submission to the council, Catherine McMullin, of An Taisce (Kerry), said the proposed zoning was appropriate for most of the land, but not for all the land. Ms Mullen suggested that around 100 acres of the area zoned secondary special amenity should be retained for amenity uses by local people, such as walking and recreation.

However, the council felt enough land in the area had already been reserved for amenity purposes.