Inter-Ireland Gas Pipe Completed

Significant development of the gas industry in five major towns and cities along the route of the new inter-Ireland gas pipe is expected to follow completion of the natural gas interconnection.

Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon - including Portadown and Lurgan - and Newry are all expected to benefit from the gas facility.

Energy Minister, Nigel Dodds marked the completion of the South-North natural gas pipeline between Dublin and Antrim this week along with Minister Eamon Ryan, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the Irish Republic at Armaghdown Creameries, Banbridge.

Mr Dodds said: "The completion of this new gas pipeline will provide Northern Ireland with natural gas interconnection with the Irish Republic.

"It will give additional security of energy provision here and offer a diversity of supply for energy consumers in the areas it serves."

The South-North pipeline, constructed by Bord Gais Eireann (NI), a subsidiary of Bord Gais Eireann (BGE), will stimulate the development of the gas industry and firmus energy, the Northern Ireland gas distribution and supply subsidiary of BGE, is working with a number of potential industrial and commercial customers, developers of new build properties and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the areas served by the pipeline to help them take advantage of connecting to natural gas along its route.

Armaghdown Creameries is already a significant business customer in the Banbridge area to be connected to natural gas by firmus.

Minister Dodds continued: "Both BGE and firmus, along with their contractors, are to be congratulated in completion of the pipeline project and ongoing work to install gas distribution networks.

"The increased availability of natural gas, which is the lowest carbon and least polluting fossil fuel, will encourage conversion from other fuels and help bring about significant environmental benefits," he said.

Following support from the Northern Ireland Executive in 2001 in the form of a £38million grant package, and a contribution of £8.5million from the Irish government, to extend the natural gas transmission network, BGE (NI) was granted a licence to take gas to towns and cities along the routes of the North-West and South-North pipelines in March 2005.

The downstream gas market outside greater Belfast is being developed without any direct public assistance.

(BMcC)