Written answers

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Gas Exploration Licences

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

620. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the decision making process with regard to issuing of licences in the Atlantic margin oil and gas exploration licensing round and whether Ireland's commitments to climate change mitigation are factored into these decision making processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19340/16]

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 2015 Atlantic Margin Licensing Round opened in June 2014 with the publication of a notice on my Department’s website inviting applications for Licensing Options in all of Ireland’s major Atlantic basins. By the closing date for applications on 16 September last, forty three applications were received. This was by far the highest number of applications received under any licensing round in the Irish offshore.

In the following months my Department undertook a detailed evaluation of these applications in accordance with the award criteria set out in the published notice. A two-phased approach was taken to the award of Licensing Options under the round, having regard to the very high number of applications received and to the fact that a number of applications had proposed new seismic surveys in 2016. Evaluation of applications that proposed new seismic surveys in 2016, along with other applications in the same general area, was progressed first. Following conclusion of the evaluation of these applications the first phase of awards was made in February of this year with fourteen Licensing Options awarded. The timing of the awards allowed for the preparation and planning of new 3D seismic surveys in the Porcupine Basin and these surveys are currently underway. Evaluation of the remaining applications concluded in June of this year when a further fourteen Licensing Options were awarded. The 2015 Licensing Round has been the most successful round held in the Irish offshore to date with a total of twenty eight Licensing Options awarded.

The White Paper “Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015 to 2030" is a complete energy policy update, which sets out a framework to guide policy between now and 2030. Its objective is to guide a transition to a low carbon energy system, which provides secure supplies of competitive and affordable energy to our citizens and businesses.

The White Paper envisages that in the short to medium-term, the mix of non-renewables will shift away from more carbon-intensive fuels, like peat and coal, to lower-carbon fuels like natural gas. In the longer-term, fossil fuels will be largely replaced by renewable energy sources. The White Paper acknowledges that oil and natural gas will remain significant elements of Ireland’s energy supply between now and 2035.

The White Paper notes that even with demand reduction, energy efficiency efforts and a greater use of low carbon fuels, the International Energy Agency forecasts that oil and natural gas will remain significant elements of the global energy mix out to 2035, especially in transport.  In this context, the development of Ireland’s indigenous oil and gas resources has the potential to deliver significant and sustained benefits, particularly in terms of enhanced security of supply, import substitution, fiscal return, national and local economic development and technology learning.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.