The prospect of 40,000 new customers across the west of the province accessing natural gas, moved a step closer yesterday (Wednesday) with the official launch of the Gas to the West project.

Described as an “exciting and critical” project, £200 million is set to be invested in the laying of a new gas pipeline to the the following towns: Enniskillen, Derrylin, Omagh, Strabane, Magherafelt, Dungannon, Coalisland and Cookstown. The Northern Ireland Executive has ring-fenced “up to” £32.5 million for the project.

Two companies have been awarded conveyance licences to extend the natural gas network. Mutual Energy (which owns and operates the Scotland to Northern Ireland gas transmission pipeline and the Belfast gas transmission pipeline) will own and operate the high pressure (transmission) pipeline to the west.

The pipeline will be constructed by SGN (the UK’s second largest network company, operating across Scotland and southern England), which will thereafter provide maintenance and other services to Mutual Energy. SGN will own and operate the low pressure pipeline (the mains, services and meters) which delivers the gas within the eight towns.

The project will see “shovels in the ground” this summer, starting with Strabane, John Lobban, Chief Executive of SGN, told yesterday’s launch at the Killyhevlin.

Public information events will be held in September 2015, planning applications will be submitted in January 2016, the first gas will be available in Strabane in October 2016, high pressure construction will begin in April 2017 and the first gas will be available in Derrylin by December 2017.

Gas providers – such as SSE Airtricity, Phoenix, Firmus and Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis) – will vie for the contract to run the gas through the pipelines. They will work with the Utility Regulator on setting the prices that will hopefully see reduced energy bills for local businesses and home-owners.

Approximately 200 jobs are expected to be created during construction phase, with ongoing jobs such as installation sub-contractors and other related jobs available as the pipeline starts functioning.

The final route should be finalised “in the next short period of time”, Mr. Lobban tells The Impartial Reporter. Farmers will then be contacted to discuss compensation for the pipeline running through their land.

“The high-pressure build will be cross-country and will include farmer’s fields,” Mr. Lobban explains. “It will involve large diameter steel pipelines. Because of that, we will need to gain access and agree easements.” He continues: “The low-pressure build will predominantly be laid under carriageway. In terms of the feeder pipes to the towns, there will be a combination of cross-country and carriage lay.” Mr. Lobban and Mutual Energy Chief Executive Paddy Larkin have been engaging with stakeholders such as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Health and Safety Executive, the Farmers Union, the Forestry Commission and customers.

“I’m delighted to say that the reaction has been positive, so-much-so, that everyone is desperate for us to reach the towns as quickly as possible,” Mr. Lobban reports.

Asked to outline the process of negotiations with farmers along the proposed route, Mr. Lobban states: “We are a very experienced construction company in Great Britain, so we have tried and trusted procedures and processes to follow.

“The first thing we have to do is gain access to the land and speak to the farmers and land-owners. We then have to carry out an environmental impact assessment to understand the ecology, geology and hydrology of the ground. We also need to organise way-leaves to gain access to the land.” He continues: “I must stress that we have not finalised the route yet, but, once we do, we will be in touch with everyone who will be impacted by this. We hope to do that in the next short-period of time. We will need to agree that with the regulator.

“We are presently working on the design and the route on the basis that everyone is desperate to get gas to the towns by the end of 2017. I must stress that that’s a very stretching target. Once that is finalised, we will progress into the negotiation and discussion phase.” He confirms: “There is obviously compensation that is agreed on an individual basis.” Asked about the inclusion of the Clogher Valley area in the route, he states: “It’s just too early to commit to a route.” Energy Minister Arlene Foster describes the Gas to the West project as “the biggest investment in the west of the country for quite some time.” She tells The Impartial Reporter: “Some of our larger businesses are already pricing the fact that their energy prices are going to be lower into their products.

“It is also good news for domestic customers. It will give them choice of a cleaner fossil fuel and it will be cheaper.” The Clogher Valley will be included, according to the Minister, who qualifies this by saying: “That is subject to planning and an environment impact assessment. But, the intention is very much there that it will come down from Dungannon, Ballygawley, through Augher, Clogher, Fivemiletown and then onwards through Tempo and Enniskillen.” Asked about the local impact, she replies: “It’s not a huge disruption to farmers. The companies will be looking at trying to bring the pipeline down along the side of roads, as opposed to going through fields, but if they have to, they will of course engage with farmers to ensure that causes minimal disruption.” Mr. Larkin, of Mutual Energy stated: “We already have an experienced and dedicated project team in place and look forward to moving toward the next phase of the project.”