The three exploration companies involved in the Corrib gas field off the Mayo coast intend to display their plans for pipeline landfall and onshore routes over the next fortnight.
The exhibitions have been billed as part of the consortium's public consultation and a preparation for the various environmental impact studies required. The venues for the displays have been selected along the possible pipeline routes - Broadhaven, Co Mayo, to Galway, and Broadhaven to Dublin.
Enterprise Energy Ireland (Enterprise Oil) and partners Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Ltd and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Ltd have already announced that the subsea pipeline from the gas field - some 70 kilometres off the Mayo coast - will reach land at Pullathomas, Broadhaven, Co Mayo. The gas will then be transported by onshore pipeline, either to Galway (Corridor 1) or Dublin (Corridor 2).
The gas field was discovered in October, 1996, and is located a further 13,000 feet below the seabed. The consortium says tests carried out over the past three years indicated that it is a medium-sized field. Sanction for the project is expected to come in December.
Mr John McGoldrick, general manager of Enterprise Energy Ireland, says the exhibitions will give the public the opportunity to learn more about the project and to have an input into plans. "They are also part of our ongoing work on assessing the environmental impact of the project, which will culminate in reports which will be submitted to Government," he says.
The timetable for Corridor 1 exhibition venues (Broadhaven to Galway) is as follows, with hours from noon to 8 p.m. in each case: June 13th, McGrath's, Pullathomas, Broadhaven, Co Mayo; June 14th, Downhill Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo; June 15th, Breaffy Hotel, Castlebar, Co Mayo; June 16th, Quality Hotel, Oranmore, Co Galway.
For Corridor 2 (Broadhaven to Dublin), the display venues, also open from noon to 8 p.m. are: June 19th, Park Hotel, Sligo; June 20th, Forest Park Hotel, Boyle, Co Roscommon; June 21st, Longford Arms Hotel, Longford (until 6.30 p.m.; June 22nd, Bloomfield Hotel, Mullingar, Co Westmeath; June 23rd, Wellington Court Hotel, Trim, Co Meath.