Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 6

Written Answers. - Natural Gas Consumption.

Bernard Allen

Question:

27 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline the quantity of natural gas consumed by (1) domestic and (2) commercial users in (a) 1988, (b) 1989 and (c) 1990; and if he will give details of the reserves remaining and their life expectancy.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Molloy):

The quantity of gas consumed in the sectors in question was as follows:

	Domestic	Industrial/ Commercial
	M Therms	M Therms
(a) 1988	30	138
(b) 1989	37	179
(c) 1990	52	189

I might point out that Bord Gáis do not differentiate between commercial and industrial consumers for the purpose of these types of return.

The estimated recoverable reserves remaining in the Kinsale Head and Ballycotton fields are approximately 680 billion cubic feet. These reserves are expected to last until the year 2002 at current levels of usage.