The Corrib Gas partners will modify the route of the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline and will review the legal position with regard to the ongoing injunction proceedings

The Corrib Gas partners today confirmed that they will modify the route of the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline in the vicinity of Rossport to address community concerns relating to the proximity of the pipeline to housing, as recommended by the mediator, Mr Peter Cassells, in his report published last week. The Corrib Gas partners confirm that having accepted the findings of both the Independent Safety Review and the mediator’s report, they intend to now proceed with the project.

The decision to modify the pipeline route has significant implications for the existing injunction proceedings between the company and a small number of objectors. Shell E&P Ireland (SEPIL) is reviewing these proceedings with its legal team and hopes to have discussions with the other parties involved as soon as possible with a view to withdrawing SEPIL’s claim in these proceedings.

The Corrib Gas partners welcome the mediator’s findings that a clear majority of people in Rossport, the wider Erris area and County Mayo support the project. They wish to thank the large number of people in Rossport and Erris who have continued to support the project. The partners have stated repeatedly over the past ten months that they would do more to listen to and engage with the local community, and reaffirm their commitment to consult the local community on different aspects of the proposed development including the options for a modified pipeline route.

No construction work has taken place at the Bellanaboy Terminal site for the past year.  This voluntary suspension was undertaken so as to allow time and space for the safety review and mediation process to be completed. The first step in resuming work is to expand the water treatment system on the Bellanaboy site and this necessary environmental work will commence in September.

The partners accept the other recommendations in the report and hope to be in a position shortly to announce new initiatives around enhancing local benefits, providing local employment and the procurement of services locally.

Speaking today Andy Pyle Managing Director of Shell E&P Ireland said:

  “We have made a number of key changes over the past year – We have agreed to implement all of the recommendations in the Independent Safety Review; we have an expanded team in Mayo engaging with the local community and we have publicly apologised for the hurt caused last summer. I believe that these changes together with today’s announcements mark a real turning point in this project. We intend to move forward now in partnership with the local community so that this project can be delivered for the benefit of Erris, County Mayo and Ireland”.

He went on to state, “This argument is no longer about safety. The safety issues have been comprehensively addressed through the Independent Safety Review. This pipeline is safe. It’s time for this project to move forward and we believe that the best way to do so is to modify the pipeline route in line with Mr Cassells’ recommendations”.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

·        The Corrib Gas partners are Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (SEPIL) 45% (operator), Statoil Exploration (Ireland) Limited (36.5%) and Marathon International Petroleum Hibernia Ltd (18.5%).

·        The Corrib Gas project will provide up to 60% of Ireland’s gas needs at a time when the country imports up to 85% of its gas.

·        The Corrib gas project will provide in excess of 700 jobs during construction and a further 50 permanent jobs.

·        SEPIL’s application for a permanent injunction to prevent people blockading work on certain sections of the onshore Corrib gas pipeline are brought against six persons, three of whom are part of the group known as the Rossport Five.