Enterprise Energy, the company which discovered the country's second major gas field off the Mayo coast, has told a Bord Pleanala inquiry it intends to build a world class terminal to bring the gas ashore near Belmullet next year.
But local farmers, fishermen, and residents told an oral hearing in Ballina today they had serious environmental and safety concerns and would be objecting strongly to the location of the €150m terminal.
Enterprise Energy was granted planning permission by Mayo County Council but has run into strong opposition over the past 12 months.
The company told RTE News today it believed there was strong support for the project in County Mayo and that the region's economy would benefit greatly from the arrival of offshore gas. The terminal would be built to the very strict guidelines laid down by the Environmental Protection Agency.
But the Friends of the Irish Environment Agency said it wanted to see the terminal built at sea, as happened when the Kinsale field was being developed. Seven environmental and local action groups are opposing the terminal plan the hearing is expected to last two weeks.
