Cross-Border Energy Supply In Jeopardy

An electricity interconnector project across the Irish border has been revealed to be about nine months behind schedule.

It has also been estimated to be costing around £1.5 million more than first envisaged. However, Northern Ireland electricity users could be under threat as early as 2014 if the long-awaited interconnector with the Republic of Ireland isn't built.

Iain Osborne, Chief Executive, of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation warned that the existing grid's capacity to distribute extra power will suffer if a 'bottleneck' between north and south isn't speedily resolved.

Mr Osborne told Stormont's Environment Committee: "The social costs of not having enough power are enormous."

The warning comes as a new report, commissioned by NIE and Eirgrid, found that an overhead line would be easier to repair and far cheaper than the underground cable alternative.

However, residents in counties Tyrone and Armagh have been campaigning against plans for an overhead cable from the Republic amid health concerns about its proximity to their homes.

Opponents to the proposed system - planned between Tyrone and Cavan - said the report grossly overestimated the cost of an underground system.

Amid calls for an inquiry, Iain Osborne warned that a lengthy planning process is likely to cost an extra €30m (£22m) in expenses incurred because the existing system isn't fully adequate.

Mr Osborne said: "It is a lot of money if you have a public inquiry, it could be one of the most expensive public inquiries that we have ever ran and I think it is very important that everybody realises it.

"By 2014 we will start to have concerns about security of supply."

It is hoped that an all-island electricity market will bring reduced bills for both domestic and business users through greater competition.

(BMcC/JM)