Government of Ireland Statement on Importation of Frac’d Gas

Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas Published, From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Press Release by Government of Ireland, 18 May 2021

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD today received Government approval for a Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas including a moratorium on the development of LNG import terminals pending the completion of review of security of supply. The policy statement stems from a commitment in the Programme for Government, and confirms that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas.

Minister Ryan said,

“Fracked gas causes environmental damage both locally where it is extracted and globally and Ireland, having banned its exploitation onshore, should not impose these environmental risks on other communities around the globe. I remain as determined as ever to halt the damage caused by fracking and will pursue all opportunities at a European level and also at an international level to do so.”

The Minister continued,

“Ireland’s commitment towards a zero-carbon energy system means we will rapidly move away from fossil fuel use for energy. Developments in renewable energy which reflect our climate ambition will inform the study on security of energy supplies to ensure we have a clean, reliable and secure energy system.”

The Policy Statement sets out that:

pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with;

the Government will work with like-minded European States to promote and support changes to European energy laws – in particular the upcoming revision of the European Union’s Gas Directive and Gas Regulation – in order to allow the importation of fracked gas to be restricted; and

the Government will work with international partners to promote the phasing out of fracking at an international level within the wider context of the phasing out of fossil fuel extraction. Planning Authorities, when assessing any planning application, must have regard to relevant Government policy.

A legal ban on the importation of fracked gas cannot be put in place at this time. To do so would require changes to international rules, such as European energy laws. Such changes could facilitate the implementation of a legal ban or restriction on the importation of fracked gas in the future. This policy statement commits the Government to pursuing this as part of the upcoming revision of the European Union’s Gas Directive and Gas Regulation.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor
Fracked gas is natural gas that is produced by forcing apart rock seams deep underground by pumping water, sand and chemicals at high pressure. Its use is banned onshore in legislation in Ireland since 2017 due to the environmental risk it poses. In addition to local environmental risks, fracked gas often is associated with methane leaks resulting in a much higher carbon footprint than conventionally extracted natural gas.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, can be from fracked gas or conventionally extracted gas. It generally has a higher carbon footprint than natural gas supplied via pipeline due to the energy required to liquefy, transport and regasify the natural gas. As the regasification would occur in Ireland, this would lead to higher carbon emissions in Ireland when compared to natural gas supplied by pipeline.

Ireland is undertaking a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems. The review will inform how Ireland can ensure we will have secure energy systems focussing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. The review will consider how the Government’s increased ambition in renewable energy and the development of new indigenous clean energy sources, such as hydrogen and biomethane, will reduce fossil energy use and how this can reduce risk associated with security of supply. It will also focus on ensuring we avoid the substantial risk of stranded assets, in particular fossil fuel infrastructure, in the context of the Government commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

The review will inform whether it would be appropriate, or not, to develop LNG terminals in Ireland and, if any such terminals were to be developed, whether they should only be in order to provide a contingency supply in the event of failure of existing natural gas supply infrastructure.

Cabinet support for move on fracked gas likely to scupper Shannon terminal plan, Eamon Ryan says full ban on importation of fracked gas cannot be put in place at this time by Kevin O’Sullivan Environment & Science Editor, May 18, 2021, The Irish Times

The Government has announced a new policy statement that will prevent Ireland from importing fracked gas, which is likely to scupper moves to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Shannon estuary.

The statement, drawn up by Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan, makes clear “it would not be appropriate to permit or proceed with development of any LNG terminals in Ireland, including the Shannon LNG project” pending a review of the security of energy supply for Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems.

Planning authorities, when assessing any planning application, must have regard to relevant Government policy. A legal ban on the importation of fracked gas cannot be put in place at this time, Mr Ryan said, as doing so would require changes to international rules.

Fracking involves drilling down into the earth and directing a high-pressure mixture of water, chemicals and sand into the rock to release gas, which then flows to the head of a well.

Environmental campaigners previously criticised the Government for not having a ban on fracked gas enshrined in the Climate Action Bill, which is currently going to through the Oireachtas.

Environmental damage

“Fracked gas causes environmental damage both locally where it is extracted and globally and Ireland, having banned its exploitation onshore, should not impose these environmental risks on other communities around the globe,” Mr Ryan said after the statement was approved by Cabinet.

“I remain as determined as ever to halt the damage caused by fracking and will pursue all opportunities at a European level and also at an international level to do so.”

Ireland’s commitment towards a zero-carbon energy system meant it would rapidly move away from fossil fuel use for energy, the Green Party leader said.

“Developments in renewable energy which reflect our climate ambition will inform the study on security of energy supplies to ensure we have a clean, reliable and secure energy system.”

The US company New Fortress Energy has resubmitted a planning application for the €500 million Shannon LNG import terminal at Ballylongford, Co Kerry, after its previous application was quashed by the High Court last year.

The policy statement also says the Government will work with like-minded European states to promote and support changes to European energy laws – in particular the upcoming revision of the EU’s Gas Directive and Gas Regulation – to restrict the importation of fracked gas. It also says the Government will work with international partners to promote the phasing out of fracking within the wider context of the phasing out of fossil fuel extraction.

Strong reassurance
Brian Leddin, Green Party spokesman on climate action, said the announcement “provides strong reassurance that Ireland will not import fracked gas” as the State moves towards carbon neutrality. The party had secured this commitment as part of the programme for government negotiations, he said, adding that the move put Ireland “at the forefront internationally” on the issue.

Green Party Senator and anti-fracking campaigner Róisín Garvey said fracked gas “has hugely damaging effects on both the global climate and the local environment where the fracking takes place”. She said an outright ban was needed “to ensure we meet our climate neutral targets”.

Ireland imports natural gas via the two interconnector pipelines from Moffat in Scotland, which provide the majority of natural gas currently used here. Given the level of fracked gas in the imports from Scotland is considered very low, Ms Garvey insisted the highest risk of fracked gas being imported into Ireland on a large-scale would be via LNG terminals, if any were to be constructed.

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