Back in Ireland, they’re still battling over a proposed pipeline from Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s Corrib offshore gas fields. Yes, that’s the same pipeline controversy we have touched on before.
As one of our informants aptly put it, “Corrib would seem to be at the center of an Irish ideological, political, and financial battleground between many different interests.”
This time, the dramatis personae are arguing over the validity of two consultancy reports: one by Accufacts Inc. for a group calling itself the Centre for Public Inquiry, the other by Advantica Consultants on behalf of the Irish government.
Two-thirds political
In November, Shell said that any concerns about the safety of its onshore pipeline in County Mayo would be addressed in an independent review currently under way-the Advantica report.
It was reacting to the Accufacts report, which claimed the pipeline carried a real and substantial risk of failure if operated at very high pressures. Ireland’s Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey dismissed the report as “two-thirds political.”
But opponent Mark Garavan said the Accufacts report had justifiably increased the anxiety of local people.
“It seems to confirm that the fears that they have had for many years are well founded technically and scientifically and of course further erodes the confidence and trust people have had in Shell and the various state bodies,” he said.
In its draft report on the hazards of the scheme, issued a week ago, Advantica said the pipe would be fit for use if it was reclassified as suburban and its pressure limited to 144 bar, half the level the pipe was designed for.
The Advantica report insisted this would be a practical and effective measure to reduce risk. It also insisted-as Shell has long claimed-that the pipe was designed to meet or exceed appropriate standards and international best practice.
Glass slipper
Advantica also said proper consideration had been given to safety issues in selecting the preferred design option and locations of the landfall, route, and terminal in Bellanaboy.
The natural resources minister said the report showed the route, which is 70 m from homes at some points, would be acceptable if changes were made. “They find the route was acceptable, provided the recommendations they make are followed,” he said.
But Garavan completely disagreed. “To assert that the pipeline has been designed to meet or exceed best international practice and standards is patent nonsense,” Garavan said.
He said the terms of reference given to the consultants “forbade them to inquire into the real safety questions,” such as production concept, route and design, and consequences of explosion.
“At the core of the Advantica recommendation is the belief that a technical solution can be found, and no such technical solution exists that is fail-safe,” he said. “They have Cinderella’s slipper and are trying to crack it on to one of the ugly sisters.”✦
