The midland towns which will be connected to the new Bord Gais pipeline from Dublin to Limerick are expected to be announced later this month, following a Bord Gais board meeting.
Most large population centres along the route are expected to benefit, including Athlone, Mullingar, Kinnegad, Tullamore and Ballinasloe.
The Bord Gais pipeline will bring gas from the North Sea via Scotland to supply the midlands and mid-west, to reinforce supplies to the Republic and to link into supplies from the newly discovered Corrib gas field off the west coast. It will run from Ballough in Dublin to Goat island in Limerick.
"The larger of the towns will be supplied with gas at first and the smaller towns in time," said Mr John Shalloe, associate with MC O'Sullivan Consulting Engineers to the project. He said it would speed up the industrial development of these towns. "A lot of industry now looks for natural gas as a source of energy before deciding where to locate." A knock-on benefit would be the estimated 600 jobs the project is expected to provide directly and indirectly during construction. "The project will use contractors from Ireland and overseas but we expect that much of the workforce will be local," Mr Shalloe said.
Construction of the 318-km pipeline is due to start next February and finish in October. The disruption will be greater for farmers, where 2,400 acres of land will be taken out of production for up to two years. The Irish Farmers Association and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' As sociation have been consulted and compensation has been discussed with landowners along the route.
The development has been welcomed by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. "We are fully in favour of the distribution of energy right across the country," said Mr Simon Nugent, its chief executive. "It's the single biggest concern for a lot of our members. Anything that boosts the range of energy sources in a region would have to be welcomed."
A natural gas connection would help boost industrial development in Mullingar, according to Ms Aine O'Meara, chief executive of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce. "Mullingar is growing rapidly so we would be anxious that the town would be able to provide sustainable energy to meet residents' needs," she said.
