The ESB has suffered a setback to its plans to build a £200 million (€253 million) gas-fired power station in Ringsend, Co. Dublin.
A property company, Fabrizia Developments, which is understood to have interests in the area, is appealing Dublin Corporation's recent decision to grant planning permission to the project earmarked for Pigeon House Road.
The appeal to An Bord Pleanala was lodged last Friday and means the project will be delayed by at least four months. The ESB hoped to begin construction soon after receiving planning permission from Dublin Corporation. It hoped to have the combined cycle gas turbine station (CGT) in operation by the winter of 2001.
A company spokesman declined to comment last night on the appeal, but other sources said the company was relieved that no residents had objected.
An Bord Pleanala will make a decision on the plant on August 29th. If planning permission is refused, it would be a disaster for the ESB, which needs the plant in order to meet the demand that will exist by winter 2001.
The ESB has already made a considerable investment in the plant and has signed a joint venture with the Norwegian state-owned energy company, Statoil, under which Statoil will provide 30 per cent of its funding.
