Plans for a 400 megawatt (MW) gas-fired electricity generating plant at Ringsend in Dublin, which the ESB has said is essential to its long-term maintenance of supplies, have been approved by An Bord Pleanala.
The £200 million (€254 million) combined cycle generating station is, says the ESB, one of the most efficient available. It will be developed in a joint venture between the ESB and Statoil and, pending approval from the Commissioner of Electricity Regulation, construction work is expected to begin early next year. It is hoped to have the plant commissioned early in 2002.
While the ESB has said it has the capacity to meet demand in the near future, the development of the station at Pigeon House Road is essential to its longer-term generating requirements. A decision on another major project planned for the State, this time by Viridian and CRH at Huntstown Quarry near Finglas in north Co Dublin, is still awaited by An Bord Pleanala.
The ESB has previously indicated concern that its development programme - in terms of transmission lines as well as securing sufficient supplies - could be upset by delays in the planning process.
An Bord Pleanala initially indicated that a decision on the Ringsend plant would not be available until the end of January. But yesterday's decision seems to indicate that the board prioritised the application because of its strategic importance.
In its decision to approve the project, An Bord Pleanala imposed a set of four conditions. These relate to details of alternative layouts being agreed with the planners; a landscaping scheme to be provided to protect the visual amenity; measures being taken to protect existing drainage and a financial contribution to be made to the corporation of £175,000 to reimburse it for the cost of works necessary to facilitate the generating station.
Yesterday, the ESB expressed delight with the decision. "With the capital approval and the approval of the commissioner, we hope to commence construction as soon as possible," it said.
The generating station will occupy a site of about 60,000 square metres and will contain two chimney stacks up to 70 metres high which will emit steam.
