By:
Lorna Siggins - Irish Times
‘Deficiencies’ led to non-odourised gas emergency plan being put in place as a result

An investigation by the State’s energy regulator into the release of non-odourised gas from the Corrib gas refinery in north Mayo last year says it was caused by the upgrading of an information technology (IT) system.
“Deficiencies” in Shell E&P Ireland’s (SEPIL) operating procedures led to the incident last September, but there were no safety consequences for staff at the Corrib gas refinery or members of the public “in the immediate vicinity”, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has found.
However, the risks to consumers from gas which had no safety odour prompted Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) to activate the natural gas emergency plan. Some 10,000 customers in the Galway-Mayo region were told to shut off their supplies.
The energy regulator says it took “enforcement” actions against Shell and GNI, the national gas networks operator, as a result of its investigation.
No fines were imposed on Shell or on GNI, under a series of enforcement options which the State energy regulator says are “progressive in nature”.
Posted Date:
1 August 2018