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WHILE the break in our Mediterranean summer may not have led many to turn on the home heating, when the colder weather does eventually return . . . as sadly it will . . . consumers will face massive price increases in their energy bills. Electricity prices are set to increase by up to 20% while from 1 October next the average annual gas bill will rise by 300 when a 34% price increase kicks in. Bord Gais, which is the main supplier to domestic users, said the increases were "completely unavoidable". The public will, however need to be reassured that the scale of the increases is warranted and that they are not an excuse for profit-taking and a cover for inefficient operations at the respective energy providers.
The price hikes put a renewed focus on the Corrib gas field off the Co Mayo coast. As we report today in the Tribune Business section, the first gas from the Corrib field was pumped last week. The Corrib project has been delayed because of a campaign of opposition organised by those associated with the Rossport Five group. They have raised safety and environmental concerns relating to the gas terminal to which the pipeline is linked as well as the route of the pipeline itself.
A report prepared by troubleshooter Peter Cassells was published last Friday following his efforts at mediating in the dispute. The Cassells report contains further measures to ease any lingering local concerns. The report does not reflect well on the Rossport Five. They are, according to the report, a minority in their own community. The national interest in reducing our dependence on external sources of energy supply should now be allowed to dominate this debate. The Corrib project must proceed and the pipeline developed to bring the gas ashore as quickly as possible.
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YOU ARE HERE: 19 March 2007 / tribune.ie / 2006 / 07 / 30
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