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Spanish energy giant Endesa must provide more information
on environmental issues as part of its planning application
for a €500 million gas-fired power plant at Tarbert.
A decision on the application by the multi-national firm
was due last Friday, but has been postponed for a second time
by An Bord Pleanála. A ruling is not now likely until October.
The appeals board has asked Endesa
to provide further information in its plans for a 450MW power
station on the site of the former oil-fired ESB station in
the Shannon estuary. The board has told Endesa that insufficient
consideration has been given to the impacts of the phased
construction of the gas plant.
It also said that Endesa had not proven construction would
not cause problems with the Natura 2000 site, the Shannon
and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area. There
was also inadequate information in relation to birds, it further
stated.
Endesa has until September 24 to submit the new information.
An oral planning hearing into Endesa’s application was held
in Listowel last April and was told Endesa aimed to become
a new competitive player in the Irish electricity market,
developing existing sites with cleaner technologies.
The company has operations in 10 countries and employs 27,000
people. It acquired old power stations from the ESB in Kerry,
Wexford, Offaly, Longford and Mayo in 2008.
According to project manager Maurice Kelly, upwards of 500
people could be employed in Tarbert during a four-year construction
period, with 38 permanent highly skilled jobs at the site
if planning is approved.
The development, he said, would be in two phases, with phase
one due to be in commercial operation by 2012 and phase two
operating commercially by 2016.
The existing power plant, built in the late 1960s, would
be demolished.
Endesa claimed the new technology would result in a more
efficient generation of electricity. It would also be more
environmentally-friendly, more reliable and would result in
lower electricity prices.
Kerry County Council and Tarbert Development Association
supported the application, but objections were submitted by
the Safety
Before LNG (liquefied natural gas) group.
The north Kerry-based group called for a strategic environmental
assessment to be carried out into the proposed Shannon
LNG terminal, which would supply Endesa with gas,
before the Endesa proposal was allowed to proceed.
An Taisce energy officer Elizabeth Muldowney also voiced
reservations, saying there were major questions about the
strategic need for the project. She called on Bord Pleanála
to delay approval for the plant until Endesa gave satisfactory
reasons about the need for it.
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