A proposed liquified natural gas terminal in North Kerry appears unlikely in the short-term, after the government released a policy statement on the importation of fracked gas.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan received approval for a moratorium on the development of LNG import terminals, pending the completion of review of security of supply.
Today’s policy statement stems from a commitment in the Programme for Government.
The department’s statement says a legal ban on the importation of fracked gas cannot be put in place at this time as, to do so, would require changes to European energy laws.
Instead, the statement has set out a number of measures, including stating it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted, while a review of the country’s security of energy supply is underway.
The government also says it’ll work with like-minded European states to restrict the importation of fracked gas and help to phase out fracking in an international context.
Today’s announcement will stop any progress being made on LNG terminals in the short-term, including on the long-proposed terminal for the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank and the Shannon Estuary.
In March, New Fortress Energy, the company hoping to build the LNG terminal, said it expected to have a better idea on the timing of the project by the middle of the year.
Ireland is currently undertaking a review of the security of energy supply of the county’s electricity and natural gas systems.
