Traditionally, the importation of gas has been bound physically by the location of pipelines - often coming from places such as Russia, Central Asia or North Africa. LNGs have opened up possibilities for gas transportation, making it easier than ever to store and transport fuel with less reliance on pipelines, diversifying supplier opportunities to places such as the US, Western Africa and the Middle East. Patrick Bresnihan, a geography lecturer at Maynooth University, refers to the way in which LNG developments such as Shannon LNG illustrate how “energy provision is always embedded in wider networks, which connect geographies, finance, state and private interests” [3]. This project was never solely about national or regional development - from its beginnings it was embedded in wider networks. Seeking to develop European energy supply and security. 

In 2008, the An Bord Pleanala (Ireland’s national planning board) granted the company planning permission for a new interconnector pipeline [2] to be built between Ireland and the UK. This was an essential part of the project - the current interconnector pipeline is owned by Ervia (formerly Bord Gais), a state-owned utility, meaning that the costs of maintaining it would continue to be borne by Irish customers [3]. Both Ervia and the Commission for Energy Regulation of Ireland (CER) celebrated this decision, stating it was a victory for the Irish people, as it meant that the cost of pipe  maintenance would now fall onto Shannon LNG. The Shannon LNG Terminal would result in the old  interconnector gas pipeline with the UK becoming redundant. As a result, CER ruled that Shannon LNG would have to contribute to the costs of the two new necessary interconnecting pipes which transport gas between Ireland and the UK. Shannon LNG claimed the tariffs would cost them tens of millions and serve to subsidise their competition in the UK. Shannon LNG failed in a High Court action against the CER tariff scheme in December 2013 [4]. 

Legal disputes such as these resulted in huge financial difficulties for Hess, and eventually led them to sell Shannon LNG in 2016 [5]. They had spent more than €67m trying to progress the project [5]. It is now under management by the US multinational New Fortress. The sale includes the rights to develop land owned by the Shannon Group (formerly Shannon Development) and planning permission for the terminal [6].  Despite being financed by US multinationals, the project is also eligible for political and financial support (CEF-Energy funding) from the EU through its inclusion on the 2015 PCI (Projects of Common Interest) list [8]. The decision to include this project on the PCI list was contested by Friends of the Irish Environment [15]. The project was also cited by the European Commission as a future strategic hub for Europe's gas supply, which means it is eligible for low cost financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and accelerated planning and permit granting [8]. 

Action from Environmental Groups:

In 2008, Friends of the Irish Environment Ltd (FIE) and Raymond O’Mahony (a welder and representative from the Kilcolgan Residents Association) brought forward legal proceedings challenging the proposed development [9]. Kilcolgan Residents Association first formed in 2006, in efforts to mobilise community members against the project. It brings together people campaigning for environmental reasons, economic reasons (such as farming) and those concerned with the health safety of the local population - creating alliances within the community. With traction building, the association expanded into “Safety Before LNG”, a national campaign group [1]. FIE was first established in 1997 to create and maintain a network of conservationists and  environmentalists in Ireland. It works with these networks, often assisting them with legal cases for the environment in Ireland [10]. In the 2008 legal case both parties submitted their concerns in the court, arguing that the Health and Safety Association (HSA) had applied major accident regulations to the project, yet subsequently the technical advice on the development was inadequate [10]. These shortcomings were the foundation for their legal battle and successfully brought proceedings to a halt.

Since then, Safety Before LNG has sought to bring a wide scope of issues concerning usage of the Shannon estuary to the public's attention. They set out arguments for why Shannon LNG should not go ahead. The first poses the option of “Farming or Fracking” [10] - stating that Shannon LNG emissions would equate to the methane emissions from 1 million cattle and would severely impact Ireland’s strict carbon budget, meaning that cattle farming practices will have to be altered. As many people living in rural Ireland’s work in agriculture and animal husbandry, this draws alliances between the environmentalists and the farmers of the area. The group is opposed to fracking due to the various associated environmental and societal impacts. These feelings are echoed by other environmental activist groups across Ireland, such as Love Leitrim - an anti fracking group based in the north of the country [14].

The second argument focuses on how the proposed LNG is not necessarily for the Irish people. They pose that the real issue of resource use in Ireland is because the country has become home to many international data centres - it is said that data centres in Ireland are now consuming more metered electricity than all of our rural homes put together [11]. Indeed, certain political decisions made by the government encourage international companies to establish headquarters in the country, as it remains strategically based within the European Union and in close proximity to the UK. Famously, part of the Irish government's enterprise policy includes large tax breaks for these companies and their employees [13]. Safety Before LNG argues that the government should really re-centre the debate around energy usage inequality before signing deals that put people and the environment at further risk. Addressing the needs of the Irish people instead of using their lands to house international companies. 

The third points to controversial payments made from Shannon LNG to Kerry Council, that raises ethical questions. It is reported that a total of €4.1 million has been paid from Shannon LNG to the council in relation to the project [11]. Councillor Finucane of Kerry stated that these payments were simply “good faith contributions” [11] made by a company that was committed to the area. Safety Before LNG state that these payouts are a potential sign that agreements are being made on the basis of financial gain, with no regard for environmental or social impacts. 

By June 2023, planning permission for the LNG Terminal had expired, meaning US firm New Fortress Energy is still seeking planning permission and the project remains in its assessment stage [7] almost 20 years following its conception. This case highlights the intricate web of connections that financial institutions, investors and global corporations have with national and European governments surrounding global energy provisioning [3]. It raises concerns about EU and investor commitment to a just transition, especially as there has been much local  concern surrounding this development.

In September 2023, An Board Pleanàla finally rejected New Fortress' request, stating that "the development would be inappropriate pending review of Ireland’s  energy supply" [17]. The decision was based mainly on the governments stance on importation of fracked gas.

- Date of Commissioning : 2018

- Export Capacity: Up to 1 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day approved

- Up to 4 LNG tanks of 200,000 cubic metres capacity each

- 26 kilometer pipeline and AGI (Above Ground Installation) connection to national gas grid approved

- 20 year exemption from regulated third party access from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the EU Commission

NOMINAL ANNUAL CAPACITY :

By 2018 : 2,70 billion m3/y

By 2019: 2,90 billion m3/y

By 2020: 3,4 billion m3/y

LNG STORAGE CAPACITY :

By 2018 : 200.000 m3 LNG

By 2020 : 800.000 m3 LNG