The solution to Ireland’s economic woes could be under the seabed – if further reserves are found it could begin exporting oil.
Saturday 03 August 2013
By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent, in County Mayo
Seismic surveys are to be carried out to ascertain if Ireland has enough oil and gas reserves to export fuel.
Shell is already building the longest gas tunnel in Europe (4.9km) to transport fuel from one field, 85km off the west coast.
If Russia ever turns off the supply, Ireland may soon be able to offer an alternative.
Michael Crothers, managing director of Shell Ireland, explained: “Because Ireland is beside a major market, and the UK is looking at decommissioning nuclear facilities, having to shut down coal-fired power plants because of greenhouse gas emissions, there’s an enormous opportunity for Ireland, if gas can be found, to export into that ready market.”
At the peak of its 20-year life, gas from the Corrib field will meet two thirds of Ireland’s need.
The ambitious project has created 1,400 construction jobs in County Mayo, a remote region previously blighted by unemployment and emigration.
Bernadette McManamon, a civil engineer, said: “Sixty percent of my class, if not more, have emigrated and most of them are in Malaysia or Australia and some in America so I definitely wouldn’t be working in Ireland … if it wasn’t for the Corrib gas project.”
The exploration has not been without its opponents. In 2005, five local protesters – the so-called ‘Rossport Five’ – went to prison.
Lessons have been learned about the need for greater engagement with communities along the coastline before any prospecting takes place.
Gerry Coyle, a Fine Gael councillor, said: “You cannot come in and go telling them what to do. You have to explain in great detail.
“Sometimes, it’s very difficult on communities. This community were cast into the middle of this. They didn’t go looking for gas. Gas came to them.”
Mr Crothers agreed: “I really think it depends upon how they are approached. Any project is a balance between the social, the environmental and the economic and getting that balance right is key.”
The gas has brought an estimated 6bn euros (£5bn) for Ireland’s GDP.
Tommy Talbot, who opened a local hotel during the recession, said: “You drive from here to Dublin and there’s a lot of towns on the way out – Roscommon, Leitrim, there’s nothing in them. They really are struggling.
“Down here, we really have been cushioned by the development.”
To date, they have found one trillion cubic feet of gas in the Corrib field, boosting the country’s energy security.
If the seismic surveys turn up enough fuel for export, Ireland could have found the solution to its economic problems.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
