Positive Bord Gais meeting – Mac Sharry

On Tuesday evening last, Senator Marc MacSharry headed a delegation which met with Bord Gais CEO, John Mullins. The aim of the delegation was to advance the case for an extension of the gas transmission grid to Sligo. The meeting, organised by MacSharry, followed on an agreement reached between business people and trade union members at a recent meeting in Sligo. The various parties at the meeting agreed that the extension of the gas transmission line to Sligo was a priority to market the area for investment, reduce costs and increase competitiveness for indigenous industry and help families.

The tone of the meeting is said to have been positive with John Mullins commenting, ‘Bord Gais are conscious of the substantial industrial and residential market which is available to them in Sligo’. The Bord Gais CEO said they ‘substantially researched and costed’ the extension of the pipeline to Sligo from Northern and Southern approaches.

Mr. Mullins continued, ‘not withstanding our wish to access this untapped market, Bord Gais have a commercial mandate under the Gas Acts’. As a result, the material and capital costs connected with accessing the Sligo and North West market demand that Government agency support is required to help meet with this cost.

The meeting revealed that the quickest route to Sligo with the current gas network is via pipeline directly from Rockfield, west of Castlebar, through Charlestown and then Tubbercurry to Sligo town. The cost of the operation would amount to about €58m, with a further €4.35m for a distribution network around the greater Sligo borough area.

Mr. Mullins indicated, with a Sligo load of some 70, 000 MWh in industrial use and 64,000 MWh in residential use, he predicted a once off Government subvention of €39m would be required. This is currently the quickest and cheapest available for the transmission and distribution of the gas network to Sligo. ‘The completion of the work would be completed between six months to a year after work begins’ added Mr. Mullins.

Senator MacSharry said, ‘our meeting with Mr. Mullins was very positive. It proves that with initial Government subvention Bord Gais will avail of the market opportunity which Sligo presents. Our collective challenge is to ensure the necessary subvention from central Government or a collection of Government agencies to ensure that the project is brought to fruition quickly’.

Colin Bell, Sligo architect and attendee of the initial meeting highlighted the benefits that such a move could bring to the Sligo region. Deputy Eamon Scanlon also attended the meeting, while Deputy Jimmy Devins, action group members Mayor Jim McGarry, Phelim O’Neill, Hugh McConvill, Sligo council of trade unions and group chair Brian Feeney were unable to attend.

A meeting with Ministers Conor Lenihan and Eamon Ryan is now planned to further the case.