The backer of the Erris briquette project in north Mayo has taken issue with the Minister of State for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, for his stance on revitalising the plant.
Mr Myles Staunton, a Westport businessman and former Fine Gael public representative, has said that "misconceptions" about the project have been prompted by "recent intemperate and inaccurate comments" made by the Minister.
Close to £30 million has been spent on the venture since Mr Staunton's first initiative in the 1980s, with about 10 per cent of this being State funding. Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian multinational, was the most recent investor, but it pulled out in March of last year without trading on the market.
Mr Staunton, who took a High Court action against Norsk Hydro for breach of contract, says the company had no background in the peat energy sector, and believes the current problems with the project again lie in "inadequate handling of the Norsk Hydro investment" by Udaras na Gaeltachta.
An Erris action committee has voiced its support for another attempt, and has appealed for Government support to purchase the assets, currently held by a Cavan businessman.
Three successive Udaras board meetings between January and March passed resolutions supporting the project, but purchase of the assets has not won the approval of the Minister of State.
Mr Staunton said the Minister appeared to be unaware that previous technical difficulties had been ironed out.
"Limited additional funding" would not only protect the assets for the region, but also provide employment for about 145 people at full capacity.
Mr Cuiv appeared to be "misinformed" about the viability, in a region of high unemployment and surrounded by bog, Mr Staunton maintained in a statement.