News and Media Releases
Corrib Gas partners welcome resumption of work on Bellanaboy site
03/10/2006
Work on the Bellanaboy terminal site in County Mayo has resumed this morning, October 3rd 2006. The Corrib Gas partners are pleased that Shell staff and approximately 70 local contractors were able to go to work this morning.
Last Tuesday Shell staff and local contractors tried to return to work in a peaceful manner. A group of local protestors and others from outside the area were present which made access impossible.
Work on the Bellanaboy terminal site was halted over a year ago to allow for a period of calm and dialogue following protests. No construction activity has taken place during this period despite the fact that it was granted full planning permission in 2004.
The Independent Safety Review, commissioned by the Government and carried out by Advantica, stated that proper consideration was given to safety in the initial pipeline design. It concluded that "Provided that it can be demonstrated that the pressure in the onshore pipeline will be limited effectively, and that the recommendations made elsewhere in this report are followed, we believe that there will be a substantial safety margin in the pipeline design…". The Corrib Gas partners have accepted all recommendations in this report and have also announced they will modify the onshore pipeline route within the vicinity of Rossport.
Peter Cassells’ report, published in July, found that a clear majority of people in Rossport, Erris and Mayo were in favour of the project. He made a number of recommendations, most notably that the onshore pipeline route be modified to address outstanding concerns relating to proximity to housing. The Corrib Gas partners accepted all of these recommendations and have now put in place a consultative process for finding an agreed route.
Full-scale construction activity at the terminal site will not begin until the spring of 2007. Between now and then it is necessary to undertake environmental works to ensure that the water leaving the site meets the required standards. Preparatory civil engineering work will also be carried out so that peat removal can resume once weather permits. There will be approximately 700 people employed on the terminal site during full construction.
Commenting on today’s events, Terry Nolan, Shell’s Mayo-based Deputy Managing Director said, "We are pleased that work on the terminal site is now re-commencing after a delay of over a year. We accept that people have a right to peaceful protest but our employees and local contractors also have a right to go to work".