Planning for power plant stalled again
A decision on the application by the multi-national firm was due next Friday but has been postponed for a second time by An Bord Pleanála. A ruling is not now likely until October.
The appeals board has asked Endesa to provide further information in its plans for a 450MW power station on the site of the former oil-fired ESB station in the Shannon estuary.
The board has told Endesa insufficient consideration has been given to the impacts of the phased construction of the gas plant.
It also said Endesa had not proven construction would not cause problems with the Natura 2000 site, the Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area.
There was also inadequate information in relation to birds, it further stated.
Endesa has until September 24 to submit the new information.
An oral planning hearing into Endesa’s application was held in Listowel last April, and was told Endesa aimed to become a new competitive player in the Irish electricity market, developing existing sites with cleaner technologies.
The company has operations in 10 countries and employs 27,000 people. It acquired old power stations from the ESB in Kerry, Wexford, Offaly, Longford and Mayo in 2008.
According to project manager Maurice Kelly, upwards of 500 people could be employed in Tarbert during a four-year construction period, with 38 permanent highly skilled jobs at the site if planning is approved.
The development, he said, would be in two phases with phase one due to be in commercial operation by 2012 and phase two operating commercially by 2016.
The existing power plant, built in the late 1960s, would be demolished.
Endesa claimed the new technology would result in a more efficient generation of electricity. It would also be more environmentally-friendly, more reliable and would result in lower electricity prices.
Kerry County Council and Tarbert Development Association supported the application but objections were submitted by the Safety Before LNG (liquefied natural gas) group.
The north Kerry-based group called for a strategic environmental assessment to be carried out into the proposed Shannon LNG terminal, which would supply Endesa with gas, before the Endesa proposal was allowed to proceed.
An Taisce energy officer Elizabeth Muldowney also voiced reservations, saying there were major questions about the strategic need for the project. She called on Bord Pleanála to delay approval for the plant until Endesa gave satisfactory reasons about the need for it.
