Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment as part of the proposal to have a strategic emergency gas reserve, when will the selected location of the floating storage and regassification unit be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23672/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The Programme for Government also commits to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 and to take all necessary action to ensure and protect Ireland’s energy security.

It is through delivering on this commitment that a secure and sustainable energy future will be delivered.

I recently received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulation.

The emergency reserve will be in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU), to be owned on behalf of the State by the system operator, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). This is a similar approach to that used for oil security by the National Oil Reserves Agency.

In identifying this as the optimal approach, my Department has built upon the extensive review of security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems which was approved by Government in the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ plan in November 2023. The plan sets out Ireland’s ambition to transform our energy system and support our climate objectives. The plan includes 28 actions, under the pillars of sustainability, affordability and security. Under Action 17 of that plan, GNI was tasked with reviewing and recommending the optimal approach.

The Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve is a transitional measure that supports a secure transition of our energy system and the policy decision taken by Government ensures the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets is reduced, the reserve will be used for emergency use, and does not support increased gas demand. These provisions will be underpinned by policy and legislation which my Department is progressing as a matter of priority.

The facility will be owned and operated by GNI and will utilise public procurement processes. GNI will now progress the project through the relevant planning and regulatory structures. The appropriate location will need to be a coastal site suitable for development with access to the gas network and sheltered deep-sea access. There are a number of locations in Ireland that are likely to meet the required site conditions for berthing a transitional FSRU, and a rigorous process is currently underway by GNI to identify the optimum site.