Eamon Ryan calls Government's LNG position a 'costly mistake'

James Cox

Former minister Eamon Ryan has criticised the Government over plans for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

The LNG facility is planned for the Shannon Estuary. 

Writing in The Irish Times, Mr Ryan said: "The Government recently stated it would cost €300 million, but the bill would likely be a multiple of this. That cost is going to go on our electricity bills and in all likelihood will lead to a continued dependence on gas, which is the main reason why our electricity prices are so high.

"We need to get prices down, not just to protect our consumer and industries, but also to accelerate the clean energy transition. Cheaper electricity means lower running costs for electric vehicles and heat pumps, the workhorses of our clean energy future. By using flexible pricing and our nationwide network of smart meters, new battery storage systems can be ramped up and down. This will reduce the curtailment of wind and solar power and we can get into a virtuous circle, where power becomes cheaper, cleaner and more secure."

Responding to the article, Jerry Mac Evilly, campaigns director for climate group Friends of the Earth said: “It is shocking that the former Minister has highlighted how Government is failing to protect customers - it is planning to sink hundreds of millions (and potentially billions) into polluting LNG infrastructure and to lump these huge costs on energy bills when cheaper, cleaner alternatives are ready to go.

"The last Government only put in place a temporary ban on LNG, but now we have a situation where the current Government is looking to have its cake and eat it: it is actively ing state-owned LNG while also leaving the door open to a hugely dangerous commercial development, namely Shannon LNG. This is entirely unacceptable and tone-deaf to Ireland’s climate obligations."

Mr Mac Evilly added: "Friends of the Earth is calling on the Minister for Energy to respect Programme for Government commitments and reject further long-term reliance on dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure. An urgent first step, as noted in the article, is for Government to be clear on the real costs for customers of a polluting LNG terminal. The Minister must also ensure a full up-to-date analysis of sustainable and lower-cost alternative options for energy security, together with a public consultation, led by advisory bodies at his disposal.”