Bellanaboy Bridge in north Mayo remained the best and only viable site on which a gas terminal for the Corrib gas field could be built, representatives of Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI) said yesterday.
Addressing a reconvened hearing in Ballina, Co Mayo, yesterday by An Bord Pleanála into the proposed terminal, Mr John Easey, project manager with EEI, a subsidiary of Shell, dismissed the possibility of an offshore shallow water platform for the development on environmental, safety and financial grounds. Such a platform alone would cost €482 million, he said, and would require an increase in overall investment of €361 million.
Questioned by Bord Pleanála inspector Mr Kevin Moore as to whether EEI had comprehensively examined alternative sites for the terminal at locations such as Killala, Westport or Galway Bay, Mr David Taylor, chartered geologist, replied alternative sites had been considered but were found not to be viable. "Potential sites from Galway to Sligo were assessed but we still come back to Bellanaboy as the best option", he said.
The inspector commented on several occasions that distance and economic factors seemed to have been the main consideration for EEI. He requested information in relation to the structures and operations of existing gas field developments in the world, to which the proposed development could be compared, but EEI was unable to supply such data.
Mr Moore agreed to receive information on cost differences between an on-shore and offshore terminal for the development, figures for which were also not available from EEI.
Quoting from an EEI report which concluded that the risk to the public from the plant would be "within acceptable limits and would not result in any fatality", Mr Moore asked how EEI defined acceptable limits. Mr Taylor said he was unable to answer but perhaps its health and safety speaker could address it. The inspector promised to return to the issue.
A further submission by EEI on the visual impact of the plant suggested that the proposed development, which is bordered by existing forests, would not result in any visual obstruction to the rural Erris region. An independently produced "drive-by video" showing views from five local approach roads was shown.
The Corrib gas field is located 75 kilometres off the west coast and was discovered by EEI in 1996. The gas is located more than 3,000 metres below the sea bed and is expected to have a life of 20 years.
The hearing into the proposed Bellanaboy gas terminal ran for two weeks in February last. This hearing is expected to last at least another week.
It has been reconvened by request of An Bord Pleanála, which sought further information on a number of aspects of the development
The hearing continues today.