New Fortress Energy Proposal for Ireland LNG Import Terminal Rejected

Ireland's planning authority last week refused permission for a major new LNG terminal on the Shannon estuary citing the government's greenhouse gas reduction targets.

• New Fortress Energy proposals were for an LNG import terminal with regas capacity of up to 22.6mcm/d.
• The development at this time "would be contrary to current government policy," and would not be appropriate to permit or proceed pending completion of a government energy security review due in the coming weeks.
• Supporters suggest the terminal would provide security of supply with Ireland currently dependant on the majority gas imports via twin interconnector pipelines from Moffat in Scotland. Future imports are likely to increase as the existing Corrib gas field off Ireland declines according to ICIS.
• A full-scale LNG import terminal may not be needed long-term but building a connection point for a floating storage and regasification unit could provide a backup in the unlikely event of any pipeline disruption even without actually hiring the vessel according to ICIS.