Calls for inquiry into €4.1m payments made by LNG firm

FUTUREPROOF Clare has called for a public inquiry into seven payments totalling €4,103,625 by Shannon LNG since 2009 to Kerry County Council for a development that now looks unlikely to be built on the banks of the Shannon Estuary in view of a new government review.

A new controversy has emerged concerning plans to develop a €650m liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford, which have been lodged to An Bord Pleanála.

Last December, the entire 600-acre site of the proposed LNG terminal strategic public land in North Kerry was sold by the Shannon Group State Body to Shannon LNG for €25 million.
Shannon LNG previously had an ‘option to purchase’ agreement on the site, which was agreed with Shannon Development in 2006.

The project to build a major gas terminal, importing frozen gas and liquefying it then feeding it onto the Shannon Foynes gas pipeline is almost 20 years old.

Shannon LNG has an ‘option to purchase’ agreement on the site, which was agreed with Shannon Development in 2006.

Figures detailed in an access to information on the environment (AIE) response from Kerry County Council to the Safety Before LNG lobby group have revealed that the local authority requested and was paid seven payments totalling €4,103,625 by Shannon LNG, now New Fortress Energy, since 2009.

The latest payment of €578,625 was on August 18, 2021 – nine days before Shannon LNG lodged its planning application on August 27 2021 with Kerry County Council support.

On one occasion, on January 19th 2021, Kerry County Council actually received €625,000 from Shannon LNG on the very same day it held a formal pre-application planning meeting with Shannon LNG on a planning application it had not yet lodged.

Futureproof Clare has been one of the most active groups involved in the Shannon LNG campaign over the last few years.

Speaking on behalf of Futurproof Clare, Tim Hannon, said he believes this is a very serious matter, that a public investigation is warranted, and that each and every official involved should be held to account.

“It is evident that the planning process is clearly not fit for purpose and systemically flawed,” he said.

A major question mark hangs over whether this LNG project will go ahead after an energy security review commissioned by the Government rejects a permanent, privately-owned LNG terminal like the one proposed by Shannon LNG as a solution to the country’s energy concerns.

In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, Safety Before LNG has expressed concern about how these substantial payments could be accepted by the council before the project went ahead.

According to the group, it looks as if most of this money was used to widen the public road along the 630-acre site near Tarbert in Co Kerry, which the developer bought for the project.

An Bord Pleanála is the decision-making body in Shannon LNG’s plans as it is classified as strategic infrastructure.

However, the LNG was supported by Kerry County Council in its own development plan.

Safety Before LNG stated Kerry County Council got and received over €2.4 million Euros from Shannon LNG after its old planning permission for an LNG terminal expired in 2018 and before it lodged a new planning application for a US fracked gas import terminal in Tarbert, County Kerry in 2021.

“Shannon LNG still had planning for a 500 MW power station so intrinsically linked to the old onshore terminal valid until 2023 it could never be built in isolation and had already completed one pre-planning meeting with the Council for the new planning application which included a 600 MW power station but paid the contributions anyway.

“Shannon LNG has paid €4,103,625 to date to Kerry County Council as development contributions for road widening in Tarbert.

“Kerry County Council requested and was paid over €2.4 million by Shannon LNG after its planning permission for an onshore LNG terminal expired in 2018 and before it lodged a new planning application for a floating LNG terminal and 600 MW Power Station in Tarbert in 2021.

“Shannon LNG still had a valid planning permission to construct a 500 MW power station next to the onshore terminal but which was so intrinsically linked to the proposed terminal it was questionable if the power station could ever be built as planned if the terminal could not go ahead, but Shannon LNG paid the money anyway.

“All of this €2.4 million was paid after Shannon LNG held its first pre-application planning meeting with Kerry County Council, on January 24th 2020, concerning the new application for Strategic Infrastructure Status it had lodged at An Bord Pleanála on March 20th, 2019 for a Floating LNG terminal and power station.

“Even after having the confirmation in the High Court in November 2020 that Shannon LNG had lost all existing planning consent for the onshore LNG terminal since 2018 Shannon LNG, nevertheless, paid €1,828,625 to Kerry County Council before it lodged a new planning application on August 27th 2021 for a floating LNG terminal and 600 MW power plant. Kerry County Council supported the planning application at An Bord Pleanála at its October 18th 2021 meeting.”

In response to Clare Champion queries, the Department of Housing stated development contributions are entirely a matter for the relevant local authority. “The Minister is legally precluded from commenting on any live planning matter.”

Kerry County Council stated, “The works that Kerry County Council has carried out as a road authority in this instance are not connected to, and are independent to the outcome of any planning application that is currently before An Bord Pleanala in respect of proposed development at the Tarbert-Ballylongford Landbank.

“The works on the L1010 have been carried out as part of a planning condition which applied to a 2008 planning approval (PL08.PA0002) for an LNG plant and a subsequent planning condition which applies to a 2013 planning approval (08.PA0028) granted by An Bord Pleanala for the purposes of a combined heat and power plant in the Landbank.

“Both planning applications were granted by An Bórd Pleanala under the Strategic Infrastructure Development Act and as such Kerry County Council had no role in the decision-making process.

“Any monies received by Kerry County Council relate to the L1010 road improvement works referenced in the 2008 and 2013 planning conditions, are non-refundable, and have been fully expended on the project.”

The company didn’t respond to queries this week.