Dr Jerry Cowley, who is stand- ing as an independent general election candidate in Mayo, has called for a renegotiation of the State's deal with Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI) on the Corrib gasfield, following its multibillion-euro takeover by Royal Dutch/Shell.
"The current deal, and that with other exploration companies, is a disgrace," Dr Cowley said. The £4.3 billion valuation placed on Enterprise Oil by Royal Dutch/Shell indicates that the Corrib field project has been undervalued, he said.
"When there is no Government commitment to provide natural gas to Mayo, it is time to look at the original deals done with the State," Dr Cowley said yesterday. "I don't think the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has any idea of the scale of the gas resource off the Mayo coastline and is relying on multinationals who are involved in a deliberate policy of undervaluing."
The Government's hand in a renegotiation had been strengthened by the recent Kinsale Head discovery, beside the existing field, Dr Cowley added.
Earlier this week one of the final stages in the Corrib gasfield development was reached when the report of an expert scientific group established by the Minister for the Marine was published.
The Marine Licence Vetting Committee was established to examine the environmental aspects of the project and recommended that the relevant statutory permissions be given, subject to several conditions.
Ms Maura Harrington, a Mayo schoolteacher and spokeswoman for local objectors to the project, said the timing of the report's publication was "very cynical" and "absolutely disgraceful", as this would put further pressure on An Bord Pleanála to "come up with the goods" on planning permission for the onshore terminal. The result of the oral hearing into that application is expected later this month.
Mr Eddie Diver, of the Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association, said the proposed extension of the pipeline would not be sufficient to protect Broadhaven Bay and environs from the effects of heavy metal extracts.
His members had sought an extension of the pipeline to the actual well-head 80km offshore and had been prepared to consider a midway point as a compromise. The very fact that the pipeline was to be extended farther than the developers had planned suggested there was potential damage.
The EIS submitted by the backers did not identify a satisfactory treatment system at the proposed terminal, he said. The fishermen would be seeking advice on taking the matter further.
Among the principal conditions laid down by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee are that the outfall point for the discharge pipeline should be extended from a proposed 6 km distance offshore to not less than 12 km. This would ensure that it was outside the candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Broadhaven Bay. It also says the effluent should be treated using best available technology, subject to licensing by the EPA.
The Minister has to make a final decision on the report, which he said he would do shortly. Enterprise Energy Ireland has deferred comment until the Minister rules.