Fianna Fáil Mayor of Listowel, Cllr Jimmy Moloney, has called on local Minister Jimmy Deenihan to urgently address the stalled LNG Shannon project, which threatens the €600 million investment by the company in the Shannon Estuary.

A high Court judgement this week, which compels Shannon LNG to pay a tariff to the CER for the East-West interconnector between Ireland and Britain could potentially cost €10 million a year.

Cllr Moloney commented: “Shannon LNG plans to construct a liquefied natural gas terminal at Ballylongford in North Kerry, which would transfer the gas to its natural state.

“The project has the potential to create 650 construction jobs over four years, with 50 full-time jobs once the plant is built. There is also potential for further investment in the area as well as the usual spin-off jobs in the services sector.

“The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has requested the company pay a tariff for the East-West interconnector even though the company won’t need to use the interconnector.

“This could cost the company as much as €10 million a year and threatens the entire project. The plans have been accepted by an Bord Pleanála and the project is ready to go.

“I am calling on local Minister Jimmy Deenihan to urgently raise the matter at cabinet level and impress upon the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte to expedite the project and ensure the investment and jobs are not lost.

“The potential loss of millions of Euro in investment and hundreds of jobs would devastate the economies in North Kerry and West Limerick. The areas are depending on this project and every effort must be made to secure this investment.”