FG calls on Government to increase gas storage

IRELAND’S electricity supply would be endangered if there was any kind of energy shock as we can only store 11 days of gas in this country compared with an EU average of 52 days.

Natural gas is used to generate 55% of the country’s electricity, but more than 90% of gas used in Ireland comes from Britain. Fine Gael has called upon the Government to urgently address the problem.

“The key issue right now is the requirement for the minister and the Government to take action to require increased gas storage. The remit of the National Oil Reserves Agency should be expanded to include gas storage and storage capacity must be brought in line with EU norms. We need a Government decision immediately. Prevarication and delay, the watchwords of this Government when it comes to decisions relating to Ireland’s energy security, are not good enough,” said energy spokesman Simon Coveney.