Cabinet has approved a plan to develop an emergency gas storage facility.
The Irish government approved a plan for an emergency gas reserve in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU) to address energy security concerns, particularly in case of interconnector damage. The FSRU will hold 170,000 cubic metres of LNG, potentially supplying Ireland's gas needs for seven days. While the government stresses emergency use only, the FSRU requires regular refills, raising environmental concerns due to reliance on fossil fuels and the potential for importing fracked gas, contradicting previous policy stances and climate goals. The government considers gas a necessary "transition fuel" despite expert warnings against locking in greenhouse gas emissions.
