An Bord Pleanála has approved planning permission for Shannon LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) to develop a 600 megawatt power plant, including multiple gas turbines. It is estimated that the power plant will cost €650 million.
Two weeks ago the Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council published a report warning that Ireland faces fines of up €26 billion if, as is almost certain, the Government misses 2030 climate action targets. And yet the Government plans to build an LNG terminal to import fracked gas, the dirtiest fuel there is.
Paul Murphy notes, 'In addition, today's An Bord Pleanála decision means that the LNG terminal will be fueled by a 600 megawatt gas-fired power station. This adds yet more fossil fuel to the climate fire.
'The state is set to invest hundreds of millions of Euros in filthy fossil fuel infrastructure that not only do we not need, it will do immense harm before ultimately becoming another stranded, valueless LNG asset.'
Ireland needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions now for the sake of the climate and environment. Building an LNG terminal and its gas fueled power plant will be a terrible error that will add even more challenges to the almost impossible task of meeting our climate targets by 2030.
The case against the establishment of an LNG terminal is overwhelming. The Government must stop this colossal mistake before it’s too late.