Coalition tensions remain over LNG facility on Shannon

An energy security review ruling out a permanent liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal as an option to protect against future shocks has failed to eliminate tension between Government parties on the issue.

While the conclusions of the independent review, commissioned by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, were largely welcomed by his own Green Party and by environmental groups, some TDs from the other two Coalition parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, said on Monday night it would be a mistake not to proceed with the LNG terminal which Fortress Energy has proposed for Tarbert on the Shannon Estuary.

The review, by the London-based economic consultancy CEPA, shortlisted 10 options for consideration by the Government as responses to future shocks caused by extreme weather events, political instability, or disruption of gas supplies from the UK or Norway.

The use of LNG has been a contentious issue within the Coalition. It has been opposed by the Green Party and by most Opposition parties, on the basis of continued fossil-fuel dependency in addition to the likelihood of fracked gas being used.

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In excluding a permanent and commercial LNG facility, the review states that such a commercial operation would likely result in the importation of fracked gas which would be in contradiction of Government policy. It also pointed to higher emissions from LNG than from natural gas, and no guarantee the facility would hold sufficient stock in the event of a shock.

Fianna Fáil Minister and Limerick TD Niall Collins said the Fortress Energy plan provided a huge opportunity to solve the energy security problem.

“The Government should embrace the opportunity because we are vulnerable. It is a ready-made solution,” he said, adding that the plant could be repurposed to store green hydrogen when onshore wind energy became fully operational.

He rejected the suggestion that fracked gas would be used, saying it would be possible to identify the source of the gas being liquefied.

His Fianna Fáil colleague Willie O’Dea echoed his sentiments. “We need the permanent facility. Government policy must reflect the reality of the crisis we are facing. That is why I asked for the Programme for Government to be renegotiated or at least reviewed,” he said.

The review did not rule out the use of LNG completely. A floating LNG facility was one of the main options recommended but only for use as a backup in the event of disrupted supply.

Mr Ryan himself said he favoured the use of another option on the shortlist rather than the floating LNG terminal, a temporary land-based storage facility run by the State, which he said would use only natural gas from Corrib, the UK and Norway. His colleague Brian Leddin also said this was a feasible option.