Terrorism concerns over proposed €400m gas terminal

CONCERNS were raised yesterday about health and safety aspects of a €400 million gas terminal to be built on a site between Tarbert and Ballylongford, on the Kerry bank of the Shannon Estuary.

While broadly welcoming the proposal — earmarked for an industrial landbank which has lain unused for about 40 years — members of Kerry County Council said people in the Kilcolgan area were particularly worried.

FF councillor Dan Kiely said people feared the possibility of terrorist attacks and explosions on the site, which will have four large gas storage tanks.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for development on the landbank, but more information is needed on safety aspects. We must get assurances that the project is safe,” he said.

Before yesterday’s council meeting in Tralee was a detailed report from county manager Tom Curran on the proposal for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which will also include a jetty, equipment to unload ships, a nitrogen generation plant and several other facilities.

Over the past 30 years, several projects have been mentioned for the landbank, including a zinc refinery, an oil refinery and a transhipment terminal, but none came to fruition.

Mr Curran said the gas terminal would be of major strategic importance nationally. As existing gas reserves in Ireland were rapidly depleting, the LNG terminal would also give access to more gas supply sources, he explained.

“It is considered that a clear justification for the project has been provided,” he said.

However, he stressed local infrastructural deficits would have to be addressed including water supplies and road improvements. An environmental impact statement has been prepared for the planning application which is being considered by An Bord Pleanála. The terminal promoting company, Shannon LNG, must lodge a €5 million bond, which will be in place for 17 years, or until such time as all conditions of the planning permission are complied with.

Also, Shannon LNG must pay €7.2m to Kerry County Council as a contribution towards the cost of infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development.

Fine councillor Liam Purtill, from Ballylongford, said while priority had to be given to public safety, roads in north Kerry and west Limerick also needed to be upgraded.

Another area of concern locally, he said, was planning and he felt people should be not be prevented from building houses because of the terminal. Some Tarbert residents attended yesterday’s council meeting and FG councillor Pat McCarthy said concerned locals were “not tree-swinging cranks, but genuine people”.

Senior council planning engineer Tom Sheehy said the Health and Safety Authority would be making a detailed report to An Bord Pleanála. He also said necessary roadworks in the area would be carried out and negotiations were underway to acquire land for a relief road in Tarbert.

The estuary is home to bottlenose dolphins and Mr Sheehy said a marine ecologist had been engaged to prepare a report on likely effects on marine life.

A planning application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on September 24 last and the council must send its views to the bord about the proposed development before December 10.

Plans are to bring liquefied natural gas from other countries by tanker to the terminal where it will be stored in tanks on the 280-acre site.

A new 30km pipeline will be built to transport the gas to the national grid. It is expected between 350 and 700 jobs will be provided during the construction of the terminal. Fifty long-term staff will be employed when the terminal starts operating.