The Green Party, along with Not Here, Not Anywhere, will publish a Bill to deny planning permission for any Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure in Ireland.

Four counties have been highlighted across the country by international fossil fuel companies for the development of liquefied gas terminals - Mayo, Louth, Cork and Kerry - with the Greens claiming they will "continue to seek ways to sidestep and undermine our national efforts for a fossil free future".

The Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed strategy to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and the Greens claim that "building large LNG infrastructure would lock us into a fossil fuel energy model for decades to come."

The price of gas for consumers in Ireland increased by 29.4% in the year to January 2022, as a result of demand exceeding supply.

The Green Party initiative flies in the face of the recent policy shift by the European Commission, which has acknowledged the essential role gas will play in the EU’s energy supply as the bloc transitions towards its ambitious climate action goals.

In Association with

Earlier this month the Commission announced that while shifting towards renewable energy is essential for achieving climate neutrality, it is also necessary to have stable energy sources to accelerate the transition towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The Commission has decided that gas cannot yet be replaced by technologically and economically feasible low-carbon alternatives.

Transition fuel

During the public consultation for the preparation of the Climate Delegated Act, many stakeholders suggested that natural gas should be recognised for its role as a transition fuel in decarbonisation.

According to the scenarios in the Commission’s modelling, natural gas will continue to play an important role in terms of consumption and generation until 2030, after which it expects a decline to 2050.

“Throughout the transition of our energy system, the function of natural gas-fired electricity generation will change and will increasingly be a facilitator for the spread of renewable electricity and stable supply,” the Commission stated.

“The Complementary Delegated Act recognises the specific role of natural gas-related activities in the transition. By identifying the role of natural gas in the transition, the Delegated Act also recognises the different situations in our Member States, while contributing to a sustainable transition.”

Neasa Hourigan TD, who will be publishing the Bill said: "Ireland’s future lies in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, that minimises environmental damage, creates Green jobs and provides us with secure and affordable energy.

"This Bill prevents the construction of LNG infrastructure in Ireland and builds on the government’s work to ban fracking within the wider context of the phasing out of fossil fuel extraction."

The Greens claim that the five proposed terminals of LNG would produce 80m tonnes of combined CO2-equivalent emissions per year, equivalent to almost 12 coal-fired Moneypoint power stations. 

Aideen O'Dochartaigh of Not Here Not Anywhere, commented: "This Bill is the climate action we need now. To keep 1.5C alive we urgently need to phase out fossil fuels and LNG is a particularly climate-wrecking fossil fuel.

"Renewable energy is the future and LNG is not a safe or secure source of energy. For climate, communities and a safe future, it is crucial that we keep Ireland LNG Free."

LNG is a fossil gas that is liquified and shipped around the world on tankers and regasified to be fed to the gas grid.

Images: Getty/Fran Veale