Emigrant Online (Ireland): Shell postpones all work on pipeline
“The Minister urged the five to reconsider their stance in light of the new Shell decision.”: “Their spokesman said, however, that they would remain in prison until Shell abandoned its plans for an onshore terminal.”
Monday 8 August 2005
The Shell pipeline dispute in Mayo took an unexpected turn on Thursday when the company announced it would delay all work on the pipeline until next year, to “allow for a period of discussion and dialogue”, and to await the outcome of the safety review ordered by Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey. It had been expected that Shell was about to start laying the 75km of pipeline on the seabed as the company had arranged for the world’s largest pipelaying vessel, the 285-metre Solitaire, to begin work on August 15. On Tuesday Mr Dempsey granted permission for the commencement of this work. His decision angered Shell’s opponents who saw it as further evidence that the Government was on the side of the oil giant.