Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1551. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding the recent decision of the Port of Cork to enter into a joint venture with a company (details supplied) to import liquefied natural gas extracted through fracking in the United States, in view of the recent ban on fracking here due to of the serious environmental damage caused by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37610/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have no involvement in the business operations of the commercial port companies. Commercial decisions made by the Port of Cork are a matter for the company.

I have been informed by the Port of Cork that it is not currently entering into a joint venture with any company to import liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Port of Cork has, however, confirmed that it has entered into a Non Disclosure Agreement with NextDecade, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) development company focused on LNG export projects in Texas in the United States, to explore the feasibility of importing LNG through FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit) technology into Cork Harbour.

The NextDecade-Inisfree LNG Project in Cork Harbour is envisioned as being based around a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU). The terminal would be capable of offloading LNG from a large range of LNG vessels in current operation. If constructed, the Project would substantially increase and diversify Ireland’s supply of natural gas.

The Port has also stated that it is by no means certain that most or all of the Project’s LNG will come from North America, nor is it reasonable to assert that the US gas that is produced and exported comes from production based on fracking technology. The Cork Harbour LNG Project would be capable of sourcing LNG from multiple countries and sources.

This proposed NextDecade LNG project will provide an LNG refuelling and bunkering facility for ships at the Port of Cork in the future which would meet the requirement under the EC Alternative Fuels Directive for TEN-T ports. This facility would also be able to provide competitive bunkering to all Irish Ports.