Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
15. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if it is intended that a company (details supplied) be the sole developer of the strategic floating LNG facility; or if it is intended that they will collaborate with other entities, State or commercial, in this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13102/26]
View answerThe strategic gas emergency reserve is being delivered under a State-led approach to address the significant risk to Ireland’s economy and society in the event of a disruption to gas supplies. State-led means commissioned by the state via Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) within a regulatory framework overseen by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). This does not preclude a public private partnership nor the involvement of private firms contracted to provide, build or operate the necessary infrastructure. Public procurement processes will determine any future delivery partners.
GNI issued a Request for Information (RFI) to take market soundings from interested market operators, to identify capabilities, cost factors and general market dynamics for the provision and operation of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) and associated infrastructure for the strategic gas emergency reserve. The principal objective of this exercise was to receive feedback and gather information from the market to inform options to develop the project, in the context of the strategic reserve being owned and operated by Gas Networks Ireland.
GNI is currently progressing the project through the relevant procurement, planning, environmental and regulatory processes, with appropriate stakeholder engagement, to develop this strategic reserve and mitigate the risk to Ireland's society and economy of an interruption to gas supplies.
