Enterprise Energy Ireland has stopped construction of a crucial offshore pipeline at the Corrib Gas Field in Mayo pending a review of the project, writes Una McCaffrey

The move, which the company describes as a "postponement", comes a month after An Bord Pleanála issued a highly critical judgment regarding the Corrib development. It raised particular concerns about proposals to locate a gas terminal eight kilometres inland at Bellanaboy Bridge, questioning whether this constituted "the best alternative". Work on the offshore pipeline will not commence until this issue is resolved.

In a statement, Enterprise said that the review of the Corrib project followed the company's recent takeover by Shell.

"As this review and the An Bord Pleanála evaluation process will take some months, we feel it is prudent to postpone the laying of the offshore pipeline until the status of the proposed onshore terminal site is confirmed," said Enterprise managing director Mr Andy Pyle.

Work on the offshore pipeline was due to begin this month, with Enterprise originally expecting to bring gas ashore from the Corrib field in 2003.

The company said yesterday that the pipeline delay would put that date back by a year, subject to planning permission for the Bellanaboy terminal being granted.

An Enterprise spokesman said the company had "a very high level of confidence" that Bellanaboy was the appropriate site for the gas terminal.

As for the internal review, the spokesman said that Shell executives were "getting themselves established in relation to what Corrib represents".

Enterprise is due to respond to An Bord Pleanála's concerns by September 20th and will, in the meantime, continue preparatory and investigative work in the Corrib area.

The company stressed that it, and its Corrib partners - Statoil and Marathon - remained committed to the project.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Mr Michael Ring, said yesterday that he was "delighted" to hear of the postponement, which he described as "a victory for common sense".

"I would compliment the Bord in relation to the way they're handling this," said Mr Ring, who supports local opposition to the Corrib development.

"At least it vindicates the people that have been fighting this. They have right on their side," according to Mr Ring.