Ireland On-Line: Shell defends safety of Corrib pipeline: “It seems to confirm that the fears that they have had for many years are well founded technically and scientifically, and of course further erodes the confidence and trust people have had in Shell and the various state bodies...”: Posted Wednesday 23 November 2005

22/11/2005 - 19:11:55

Shell Ireland said today that any concerns about the safety of its onshore pipeline in Co Mayo would be addressed in an independent review currently underway.

The company was reacting to a report by the Centre for Public Inquiry, which claimed the pipeline carried a real and substantial risk of failure if it operated at very high pressures.

Shell said its Corrib Gas Field project has been through an exhaustive public consultation and regulatory process, and had been fully endorsed by all of the relevant authorities.

However, Mark Garavan of the Shell to Sea campaign said today's report had increased the anxiety of local people.

“It seems to confirm that the fears that they have had for many years are well founded technically and scientifically, and of course further erodes the confidence and trust people have had in Shell and the various state bodies,” he said.

“From our point of view, we think this report needs to be read in conjunction with the report to the An Bord Pleanála inspector Kevin Moore some years ago, who made very much the same analysis and came to very much the same conclusions.”

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