Rossport- the future for Donegal as plans for drilling emerge?

national | environment | news report Thursday February 14, 2008 19:54 by MAOR donegal.maor at gmail dot com 0863622378

Donegal group MAOR have expressed concern at Shell and Statoil's plans to carry out exploratory drilling off the Donegal Coast. From March 2008, Shell plan to conduct exploratory drilling off the North West coast of Donegal (Gaoth Dobhair, Tory Island), while Statoil intend to carry out drilling off the South West Donegal Coast (Glencolumbcille & Killybegs) from April. MAOR state that Donegal, indeed Ireland, is set to lose billions of euros worth of resources while facing similar environmental, health and safety issues as the community in Rossport, Co. Mayo. MAOR claim that the people of Ireland have had no say as to how their natural resources are being used and a referendum is urgently needed before more of Ireland's natural resources are given away.

Donegal group MAOR were alarmed at the recent news that oil giant Shell will be drilling off the Donegal coast from March, with Norwegian company Statoil due to drill from April onwards. MAOR, a non-party political group of Donegal and Derry residents, received a tip-off about a notice on the Dept of Transport website warning about offshore drilling and when members of MAOR contacted the Petroleum Affairs Division for clarification they were told that Shell will be carrying out exploratory drilling off the North West Donegal Coast (Gaoth Dobhair, Tory Island) from March 2008. According to the Department of Transport, the drilling unit will be in place for three or four months in the West Dooish prospect. Statoil are due to begin exploratory drilling in April 2008 off South West Donegal (near Glencolumbcille and Killybegs).

Shell and Statoil’s planned drilling is part of the exploratory phase of their Frontier Exploration Licences and they will have up to 15 months to decide whether they will mine commercially off Donegal. Previous drilling in this area resulted in shows of gas and oil, with the potential of these resources worth billions. Indeed, estimations by the Petroleum Affairs Division (Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources) indicate that there is a possible 10 billion barrels of hydrocarbons in the North Atlantic Margin which at current market prices is worth approximately 600 billion euros. However, “due to changes in legislation Donegal, indeed Ireland, will not see any profits, royalties or taxes for our natural resources” claimed a spokesperson for MAOR, Amanda Slevin. She continued by highlighting that the people of Ireland are not guaranteed a supply of their own natural resources and will have to pay full market prices for their own gas and oil. “Our country is set to lose a potential 600 billion euros worth of resources, to which we have a constitutional right, without any consultation with the people of Ireland.”

If Shell and Statoil (as separate licence holders) decide to commercially mine Donegal’s gas and oil, they will have up to two years to submit a Plan of Development to Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. In the two different development plans, Shell and Statoil will outline whether they will process Donegal’s gas and oil, onshore or offshore. Given the hostile conditions off the Donegal Coast is it quite possible that they will apply for an onshore refinery/ refineries, meaning a possible Rossport type situation in Donegal.

The ongoing Shell to Sea campaign in Rossport, Co. Mayo, is focused on the health and safety and environmental issues that may affect their community as a result of the planned onshore refinery and gas pipeline. Such issues include contamination of their water supply (already occurring through the building of the refinery); risk of explosion of the high pressure gas pipeline which will be close to people’s homes; possibility of toxic fumes being released into the air from the refinery; increased risk of landslides as proposed pipeline may run through unstable land. Compounding the health and safety issues underpinning the campaign has been the use of Garda force by the Government with Slevin commenting that peaceful protestors (young and old) are often beaten with batons, punched, kicked and dragged across the ground for their efforts in exercising their democratic right to protest against the refinery and pipeline. Like Donegal, there will be no economic benefits to the Irish economy as a result of the gas processed off Mayo, with people in Donegal also facing Compulsory Acquisition Orders meaning that private landowners opposed to a refinery or pipeline can effectively have ownership of their land taken from them in order for companies like Shell and Statoil to build refineries and pipelines.

“These are all issues that we face in Donegal and we have to act now to prevent a Rossport type situation occurring in areas such as Gaoth Dobhair, Glencolumbcille or Killybegs” stressed Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, a Gaoth Dobhair resident and member of MAOR. “The politicians of this country have an obligation to protect the interests of their constituents and that begins with real consultation with people around the economic, environmental, social, health and safety impacts of oil and gas exploration and mining” added Mac Giolla Easbuig. “Drilling off the Irish Coast issue affects every single person in Ireland as we all lose out by the giveaway of our natural resources, while specific communities such as Rossport, and Donegal in the near future, have to deal with the additional health, safety and environmental concerns. The way our natural resources are being dealt with is completely undemocratic and there needs to be a referendum for people to have their say on how our resources are used” concluded Slevin. If you are interested in any of these issues or would like more information on MAOR, you can contact them at donegal.maor@gmail.com or 0863622378.