Bord Gáis has been granted permission to extend its Galway-Mayo natural gas pipeline to 11 new towns, it was announced yesterday.
Following a decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation, the gas network will now be extended to Athenry, Craughwell, Headford, and Tuam in Co Galway and Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Knock and Wesport in Co Mayo.
The gas will be delivered through a 150km pipeline, which has been built to link the Corrib Gas field off the Co Mayo coast to the Bord Gáis network near Craughwell, Co Galway.
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey welcomed the initiative, which follows a campaign by the Western Development Commission and local politicians. "Industrial, commercial and local interests in these areas will be very supportive of this decision, which will provide key energy infrastructure boosting the attraction for inward investment and enhancing regional development," Mr Dempsey said.
Bord Gáis will now develop a detailed construction programme for the extensions and, subject to all relevant approvals being granted, all of the towns could receive gas by late next year.
The Minister said a separate independent study which is looking at the viability of bringing gas to the northwest from the Mayo-Galway pipeline, via Sligo to Donegal, is well advanced and should be completed early next year.
Bord Gáis said it was pleased with the commission's announcement, which it estimates will cost some €40 million. "Bord Gáis will now develop a detailed construction programme for these network extensions and we expect to have gas in the first of these towns before the end of 2007. The remainder of the towns would then receive gas during 2008," said chief executive Gerry Walsh.