Emergency gas reserve 'many years' away despite proposed laws

Ireland's vulnerability to external energy supply has been put into sharp focus this year with blockades in the Gulf and in key Irish ports during last month's fuel protests. File picture

It could be the end of the decade before an “emergency” gas reserve is in place, in spite of Government moves to progress laws to establish the critical facility.

The first of two laws required to set up Ireland’s Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve is expected to pass through the Oireachtas before the summer.

However, the draft heads of bill for the second law will not be ready until later this year, with the Government saying it will work “over the coming years” with Gas Network Ireland (GNI) to develop a business case for the project.

Ireland is dependent on twin pipelines from Scotland for 80% of its gas supplies, which in turn generates half of the country’s electricity.

Earlier this year, the electricity regulator, CRU, said loss of this supply, for example due to sabotage, would be “disastrous” for the country.

Included in a government blueprint in November 2023, the Cabinet backed the reserve in March 2025.

Ireland's vulnerability to external energy supply has been put into sharp focus this year with blockades in the Gulf and in key Irish ports during last month's fuel protests.

The reserve — a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit — would hold enough liquified natural gas to supply the entire gas demand for Ireland for seven days, with Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) contracted to refill it throughout an emergency.

In a statement, the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment said the Strategic Gas Reserve Bill is due to be published and pass through the Oireachtas before the summer. This bill provides for an “expedited planning and consenting” process.

The statement said the general scheme of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (Operational) Bill  would be published later this year.

Over the coming years, the Government will work with GNI to progress this project to Final Business Case, where detailed design and procurement activities will determine the final scope, cost and schedule for the project. 

Rory Monaghan, lecturer in Energy Systems Engineering at University of Galway, said: “Ireland is currently one of a small number of EU countries that does not have any gas storage capacity, so the development of the strategic gas reserve is of vital importance for the state's energy supply security.

“It will, however, take many years to develop the facility, not least because it will need planning permission. Even on an accelerated path, it could be the end of the decade before the strategic gas reserve is up and running, meaning it will have no impact on the current energy supply crunch.” 

He added: “Ireland has historically and is continuing to take a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to energy supply security.”

Paul Cuffe, associate professor at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in UCD, questioned why “complex legislation” should be needed.

He said that if the gas pipelines from Scotland were severed the country would be calculating the "grim arithmetic of rolling blackouts".

He said: "It is irresponsible for Ireland's whole electricity grid to be dependent on a gas compressor station in another country that is no longer even in the EU. 

"This is a matter of sovereignty, national security, and basic maturity. If you depend on burning gas, keep some gas on hand."

• Cormac O'Keefe is Security Correspondent.