Project Launches To Connect Homes To Gas Network

A project to connect thousands of homes and businesses in NI to the gas network has been launched.

The initiative, known as the Gas to the West project, will cost around £250m; with the NI Executive providing a grant of up to £32.5m.

Mutual Energy and Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) will build and manage the scheme, which will connect around 40,000 homes and businesses to the network.

Construction work is due to commence later this year, with Strabane being the first town to be connected by late 2016. The second phase will see a pipeline running from Portadown to link Magherafelt, Cookstown, Coalisland, Dungannon, Omagh and Enniskillen. The third, and final phase, will involve extending the pipeline from Enniskillen to Derrylin.

Construction work is expected to be completed by 2017, it has been reported.

Formally launching the project in Enniskillen today (4 March), Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: "This hugely important project will extend the natural gas network to Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt.

"It will bring greater energy choice for consumers and increase the potential for businesses and the public sector to use a cleaner more efficient fuel.

"Initial construction work will commence mid 2015. Further work will commence in 2016, with the first gas connections occurring in that year. The main networks will be completed by the end of 2017."

She added: "With natural gas being the cleanest burning fossil fuel, extending the gas network will help us achieve our greenhouse gas emissions target. The event today offers an opportunity for people to gain more information on the project.

"I look forward to the developers moving to the next stages of detailed design, planning permission and other approvals in advance of construction work commencing."

(JP)