August 2010

Earlier this week the government announced its intention to give away the last exploration blocks in the Irish sea to private corporations under its "open door" policy.  Today in Erris Shell starts the latest round of its long attempt to impose an experimental raw gas pipeline on the community, back from its defeat early in the new year when the long running community protests forced An Bord Pleanala to block the original ludicrous route for the pipeline that took it through the village of Rossport.  Meanwhile the community continue to resist Shell with borehole

An Bord Pleanála’s resumed oral hearing into State approval for the proposed new Corrib gas pipeline route opens in Belmullet, Co Mayo, this morning.

It comes almost 10 months after An Bord Pleanála turned down permission for a previous route option, as up to half of it was “unacceptable” on safety grounds due to proximity to housing.

The details of a proposed new route for the Corrib gas pipeline are being revealed at an An Bord Pleanála hearing in Belmullet, Co Mayo.

Shell Ireland is seeking planning permission to build an undersea tunnel to carry a 4.9km section of the pipeline.

For the past eight years Shell has been trying to get planning permission and local agreement for the key section of pipe linking the offshore gas field with the refinery it has built at Bellanaboy, which is 9km inland.

Another phase of the Corrib gas pipeline controversy in Co Mayo will be played out today when a new plan will be unveiled to bring the fuel ashore.

Shell Ireland is seeking planning permission to build an underwater tunnel for a 4.9 kilometre section of the pipeline, moving it further away from homes in the area, something that has been the subject of a long-running campaign by a group of local residents.