Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
58. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the implications that the United Kingdom's Office of Gas and Electricity Markets’ warning of a significant supply shortage of natural gas could have on Ireland's gas supplies from the United Kingdom; if current contractual agreements will be affected as a result of a shock in supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UK, from where around three quarters of Ireland’s gas comes, has a diverse source of gas supplies. The UK National Grid Gas Winter Outlook Report 2022 published this month sets out that the Great Britain gas network has significant flexibility in its infrastructure, with a potential capability in excess of the anticipated peak demand that can be reasonably assumed during the winter period. In the event of a Natural Gas Supply Emergency being declared by the Network Emergency Coordinator (NEC) in Great Britain, the Moffat Interconnector will be treated by National Grid the same as a distribution network in Great Britain. In the event of a curtailment on the National Grid network, any reduction in supply to the Moffat Interconnector would be based on the principle of proportionality . This procedure is documented between National Grid and Gas Networks Ireland and is tested on an annual basis during the NEC annual emergency exercises, most recently in October 2022.
