Rollout of gas in northwest urged

THE REPUBLIC’S northwest region could save €20 million annually in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions if the State extended the natural gas infrastructure there, according to a new study.

The Western Development Commission study published this week says that businesses in 11 towns, extending from Sligo to Letterkenny, are paying an estimated €16 million extra each year for fuel as they have no access to natural gas.

Energy prices for newly connected dwellings could also be reduced by up to €485 a household.

In addition, almost 61 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be saved if residents had access to piped gas, the commission says.

This additional saving of just over €4 million would amount to a total yearly saving of €20.6 million in fuel costs and carbon charges in the region, it says.

It is seeking a meeting with Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte to discuss the findings of its new policy paper, Why Invest in Gas? Benefits of natural gas infrastructure for the North West.

The study by Dr Helen McHenry notes that where natural gas became available to large energy users in Co Mayo, such as Allergan in Westport and Baxter Healthcare in Castlebar, the companies switched to this option.

Natural gas infrastructure is owned by Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) and decisions on investment in it are made by that company and transmission system operator Gaslink, subject to the Commission for Energy Regulation.

The study notes that discovery of the Corrib gas field 50 miles off the Mayo coast led to extension of natural gas transmission infrastructure by An Bord Gáis to the west, and connection of towns between Galway and Mayo.

However, “significant parts” of the northwest – and even north Mayo’s Belmullet, the closest town to Corrib – have no access to the transmission network.

These include 11 major towns: Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and Sligo – which are national spatial strategy gateways – along with Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Lifford and Donegal town in Co Donegal; Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Strokestown and Roscommon town in Co Roscommon; and Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim.